Podcasts about Ignoring

Kenneth didn't believe the house was haunted—at least not at first. The place was temporary, under renovation, and far from ideal, but he was caught up in the excitement of a new relationship. Still, the moment he stepped inside, something felt wrong. The air felt heavier. The mood shifted. Late one night, as the house fell silent, the ceiling fan began to move on its own—slowly, unnaturally—despite being turned off. It stopped… then started spinning the opposite direction. By morning, the unease hadn't faded. Over the next few days, the house escalated. Violent bangs shook the walls. Doors slammed without explanation. Locked spaces showed signs of movement that couldn't be traced. Electronics shrieked with static and distortion. Cold air appeared in one exact spot, like something unseen was standing there. This wasn't a typical haunting. Nothing announced itself. It watched. It reacted. And it didn't want them there. #RealGhostStories #TrueHaunting #HauntedHouse #ParanormalEncounter #Unexplained #TrueScaryStories #GhostActivity #DemonicWhispers #HauntingExperience #ParanormalPodcast #CreepyEncounters Love real ghost stories? Don't just listen—join us on YouTube and be part of the largest community of real paranormal encounters anywhere. Subscribe now and never miss a chilling new story:

THE DEATH OF PATROCLUS AND HECTOR Colleague Professor Emily Wilson. The tragedy culminates with Patroclus ignoring Achilles' warning, leading to his death by Hector and the loss of Achilles' armor. Wilson describes Achilles' terrifying return to battle, equipped with new armor from Hephaestus, and his slaughter of Trojans. The segment covers the final confrontation where Achilles kills Hector and, driven by vengeance, drags his body behind a chariot, denying him burial rights and intending to mutilate him forever. NUMBER 7 500 AD. MELEE.

Hey friend, I've been sitting with this past year—and not in a highlight-reel kind of way. The kind where you get honest about what it actually felt like. The kind where you notice patterns you didn't want to admit were still there. The kind where you realize… your body and your gut knew things long before your mind caught up. In today's podcast episode (Part 1), I'm sharing what this year revealed to me: what surprised me what stretched me what I ignored longer than I should have and how I've been learning to listen to my intuition again Not the loud, anxious voice. The quiet, steady knowing in your gut. This episode isn't about fixing anything. It's about awareness. Because you can't release what you won't first acknowledge. If you've felt tired, conflicted, or like something's been “off” but you couldn't name it—this one's for you. Give yourself permission to pause. The clarity comes when we stop rushing past ourselves.   Here are a few questions to ponder: If this past year had a theme, what would it be? When did my body or intuition try to get my attention this year? What did I know early on but talked myself out of? Where did I abandon myself this year? What did I tolerate that quietly drained me? What am I carrying that no longer fits who I'm becoming? Have questions for me? Let's set up a call. Email me at michelle@setfreesisterhood.com

8 Ways to Reduce Stress in the Workplace Episode Summary Workplace stress steals joy, drains productivity, and harms overall well being. In this episode, we break down eight practical strategies employees and leaders can use to reduce stress, rebuild clarity, and create healthier work environments. If left unchecked, stress can impact performance, morale, and mental health, but the right habits and boundaries can change everything. The Hidden Cost of Workplace Stress Stress is one of the biggest barriers to engagement and performance. Millions of workdays are lost each year due to stress, anxiety, and depression. Tight deadlines, heavy workloads, and lack of support are often the biggest contributors. Ignoring stress hurts people and companies. Addressing it helps everyone thrive. 8 Ways to Reduce Workplace Stress 1. Recognize the Early Signs Irritability, worry, trouble sleeping, shallow breathing, and trouble focusing are often the first signals. Understanding how stress shows up emotionally, physically, and behaviorally helps you catch it before it escalates. 2. Identify the Source Is it workload? Expectations? A demanding boss? Interpersonal conflict? Clarity helps you respond more intentionally and set healthier boundaries. 3. Set Clear Boundaries Boundaries communicate what is acceptable and sustainable. Whether it is availability, workload, or working hours, defining your limits reduces overload and protects your well being. 4. Evaluate Life Outside of Work Your routines matter. Poor sleep, rushed mornings, and lack of recovery time amplify workplace stress. Incorporate activities that reset your nervous system like yoga, exercise, or quiet mornings. 5. Practice Mindfulness Staying grounded in the present moment reduces anxiety about yesterday's mistakes or tomorrow's deadlines. Mindfulness, breathwork, and even aromatherapy can help calm the mind and increase clarity. 6. Stay Connected Strong relationships act as a buffer against stress. Talking with trusted friends, colleagues, or family helps you problem solve, feel supported, and maintain perspective. 7. Avoid Unhealthy Coping Habits Alcohol, junk food, caffeine overload, and smoking increase stress long term. Choose healthier outlets like movement, meditation, and nourishing routines to support your mental and physical health. 8. Work Smarter, Not Harder Multitasking increases errors and stress. Focus on single tasking, prioritizing what matters most, and organizing your workload in a manageable way. Efficiency reduces pressure. Why Employers Should Care Healthy employees perform better. Organizations that prioritize well being experience higher morale, stronger retention, and greater productivity. Flexible work options, reasonable expectations, appreciation, and opportunities for connection all reduce workplace stress. Final Takeaway Stress does not have to dominate your work life. When employees understand the signals, identify the root causes, and take proactive steps to manage stress, everyone benefits. When leaders support this effort, workplace culture transforms. Reducing stress is possible – and it starts with awareness, boundaries, connection, and smarter working habits.

In this episode we'll talk about:What it means to listen to your body — beyond trends or jargonHow the body signals truth before the mind catches upThe cost of overriding physical and emotional cuesWhy rest is often information, not avoidanceHow intuition lives in sensation, not just thoughtSimple ways to rebuild trust with your bodyand more. CONNECT WITH ME…→ Instagram — @mattgottesman→ My Substack — mattgottesman.substack.com → Apparel — thenicheisyou.comRESOURCES…→ Recommended Book List — CLICK HERE→ Masterclass — CLICK HEREWORKSHOPS + MASTERCLASS:→ Need MORE clarity? - Here's the FREE… 6 Days to Clarity Workshop - clarity for your time, energy, money, creativity, work & play→ Write, Design, Build: Content Creator Studio & OS - Growing the niche of you, your audience, reach, voice, passion & incomeOTHER RELATED EPISODES:Faith Isn't Knowing the Whole Path… It's Taking the Next Honest StepApple: https://apple.co/3MB62IuSpotify: https://bit.ly/4rZw3RN

S9 E7 — Your body is trying to tell you something. Are you listening? In this episode, corporate lawyer Justin Whitmel Earley joins Amy Julia Becker to explore how spiritual life is also embodied life. As you reflect on the year ahead, this conversation invites you to think not in terms of resolutions, but in terms of habits that nurture health and wholeness. Justin and Amy Julia reflect on:How breathing can reconnect body and soulHow fasting, feasting, and everyday meals contribute to the spiritual lifeHow to understand pain and sickness in a world that is both beautiful and brokenWhy sleep matters spiritually00:00 Intro: Anxiety Journey05:20 The Body and Soul Connection09:25 Cultural Disconnect14:46 Breath: A Practice to Reconnect Body and Soul23:35 Food: Fasting, Feasting, and Ordinary Fare32:08 Understanding Pain and Sickness in a Broken World38:18 The Spiritual Significance of Sleep_MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:Bible verses: Ephesians 2; Genesis 1-2; Genesis 2:7; Genesis 2:9; Psalm 23Kelly Kapic interview with Amy JuliaEmbodied Hope by Kelly Kapic_WATCH this conversation on YouTube: Amy Julia Becker on YouTubeSUBSCRIBE to Amy Julia's Substack: amyjuliabecker.substack.comJOIN the conversation on Instagram: @amyjuliabeckerLISTEN to more episodes: amyjuliabecker.com/shows/_ABOUT OUR GUEST:Justin Whitmel Earley is a writer, speaker, and lawyer. He is the author of The Common Rule, Habits of the Household, and Made for People, though he spends most days running his business law practice. Through his writing and speaking, Justin empowers God's people to thrive through life-giving habits that form them in the love of God and neighbor. He continually explores both how physical habits are more spiritual than we think and how spiritual habits are more physical than we think. He lives with his wife and four boys in Richmond, Virginia, spends a lot of time around fires and porches with friends, and is a part-owner of a local gym. You can follow him online at justinwhitmelearley.com.ONLINE:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/justinwhitmelearleyauthor/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justinwhitmelearley/X: https://x.com/Justin_W_EarleyYouTube: www.youtube.com/@justinwhitmelearley163We want to hear your thoughts. Send us a text!Connect with me: Instagram Facebook YouTube Website Thanks for listening!

Send us a textUnlock Proven Strategies for a Lucrative Business Exit—Subscribe to The Deep Wealth Podcast TodayHave Questions About Growing Profits And Maximizing Your Business Exit? Submit Them Here, and We'll Answer Them on the Podcast!“The breakthrough you've been chasing isn't out there, it's right beneath your feet, hidden inside the parts of your business you've stopped noticing.”- Jeffrey FeldbergExclusive Insights from This Week's EpisodesIn this holiday special, Jeffrey Feldberg delivers a raw, transformative story that forces you to rethink everything. You'll learn to spot overlooked opportunities in your customers, processes, culture, and relationships, boosting profits, enterprise value, and legacy without endless grinding. 00:03 Why this holiday moment offers rare clarity for entrepreneurs00:07 The Acres of Diamonds story and its timeless meaning00:11 How comparison distorts perception and derails opportunity00:19 What buyers saw in Embanet that Jeffrey couldn't see00:23 Why diamonds rarely look like diamonds at first00:29 The gratitude exercise that deepens awareness and leadership00:33 Why joy and fulfillment come from the journey, not the finish line00:38 A vision for the best year of your life based on inward focus00:41 How to identify your first “diamond.” Click here for full show notes, transcript, and resources:https://podcast.deepwealth.com/503Essential Resources to Maximize Your Business ExitLearn More About Deep Wealth MasteryFREE Deep Wealth eBook on Why You Suck At Selling Your Business And What You CanUnlock Your Lucrative Exit and Secure Your Legacy

  Episode Summary: Is emotional intelligence the ultimate superpower? In this episode, we dive into how mastering your emotions can improve every relationship and professional interaction you have. We discuss why reacting instantly is almost always a mistake and share a 3-step action plan to help you control your impulses, understand your own feelings, and become a master communicator. Learn how to use the "Six-Second Rule," the power of a "Draft Folder Policy," and how to truly listen without just waiting for your turn to speak. Key Takeaways & Action Steps: ·        Why EQ Matters: Emotional intelligence isn't just about being "nice." It is about effectiveness. Dealing with humans requires a skill set that goes beyond logic. ·        Step 1: Master the Gap: o   The Six-Second Rule: Anger causes a chemical flush in the brain that lasts about six seconds. If you can pause for just that long (drink water, take a breath), you can regain control. o   The Draft Folder Policy: Never send an angry email or text immediately. Write it, save it, and sleep on it. You will almost always edit or delete it the next day. o   Control the Space: You can't control the delayed flight, but you can control your reaction. "If the flight is delayed, there is something wrong with the plane, the pilot, or the weather—and you don't want to be on it anyway." ·        Step 2: Name it to Tame it: o   Engage Logic: When you specifically name an emotion (e.g., "I feel disrespected" instead of just "I'm mad"), your brain shifts from the emotional center to the logic center, instantly lowering stress. o   Separate Self from Feeling: Stop saying "I am angry." Start saying "I am experiencing anger." You are not the emotion; you are the vessel experiencing it. ·        Step 3: The Listener's Lens: o   Stop Reloading: Most people aren't listening; they are just waiting for their turn to talk. Stop reloading your next argument and actually hear what is being said. o   The Looping Technique: Before you respond, summarize what the other person said ("So what I hear you saying is..."). This validates them and clarifies any misunderstandings before they blow up. o   Validate to Influence: You don't have to agree with someone to validate their feelings ("That sounds frustrating"). Connection precedes influence. Quotes from the Episode: ·        "Anger causes a chemical flush in your brain that lasts about six seconds. If you can pause, you win." ·        "Stop reloading. Stop waiting for your turn to speak and actually listen." ·        "You can't fire a behavior, but you can change it. Name it to tame it." ·        "If you only have short-term friends, look in the mirror. You might be the problem." Action Plan: 1.   Practice the 6-Second Pause: Next time you feel triggered, count to six before doing anything. 2.   Use the "Draft" Rule: Commit to waiting 24 hours before sending any difficult communication. 3.   Try "Looping": In your next conversation, repeat back what you heard before you offer your opinion. ARN Suggested Reading: Blessings In the Bullshit: A Guided Journal for Finding the BEST In Every Day – by Mark Cardone & Theron Feidt https://www.amazon.com/Blessings-Bullshit-Guided-Journal-Finding/dp/B09FP35ZXX/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=blessings+in+the+bullshit&qid=1632233840&sr=8-1 Full List of Recommended Books: https://www.achieveresultsnow.com/readers-are-leaders Questions? 1.   Do you have a question you want answered in a future podcast? 2.   Go to www.AchieveResultsNow.com to submit. Connect with Us: Get access to some of the great resources that we use at: www.AchieveResultsNow.com/success-store www.AchieveResultsNow.com www.facebook.com/achieveresultsnow www.twitter.com/nowachieve Thank you for listening to the Achieve Results NOW! Podcast.  The podcast that gives you immediate actions you can take to start seeing life shifting results NOW!

I messed up on these episodes .I am putting out this episode without cuts. The AI, I used has been cutting things off. I apologize. Hopefully, someone else will learn from my mistake. Welcome to the DMF! I'm Justin Younts, and in this episode, Christine La Monte shares an extraordinary creative journey that began in Rome in 2012. That pivotal moment marked her introduction to a gifted young filmmaker, Maxime Derevenko, who would later emerge as an influential voice in the worlds of opera and film.Christine reflects on how their collaboration grew through shared curiosity, mentorship, and artistic trust—eventually leading to a powerful opera project rooted in themes of social justice, peace, and human connection. As the world entered the uncertainty of the pandemic, this work took on even greater meaning, becoming a testament to the resilience of artists and the enduring power of creativity.She discusses the profound experience of collaborating with Ai Weiwei and the Rome Opera House, and how that partnership offered a bold, global perspective on art's role in times of crisis. Despite having only eight performances, the opera stood as a beacon of hope and reflection during a moment when art felt more essential than ever.Christine emphasizes the importance of mentorship and nurturing emerging talent, sharing how storytelling through art can elevate consciousness and inspire meaningful dialogue. In this conversation, she invites us to explore a world where every voice matters and creativity becomes a force for change.Join us as we celebrate the power of collaboration, storytelling, and art's ability to guide us toward a brighter future.00:00:00 - Introduction00:00:06 - Beginning of Film Career00:00:25 - Meeting Maxime Derevenko00:01:55 - Working with Ai Weiwei00:04:42 - Impact of COVID-1900:05:31 - Restarting in 202200:06:59 - Reflections on the Film00:07:47 - Film's Oscar Consideration00:08:22 - Role of Activism00:09:19 - Teaching at the School of Visual Arts00:11:01 - Reflections on Film Industry00:12:22 - Looking Back at Career00:13:31 - Passion for Teaching00:14:47 - Importance of Art and Culture00:16:20 - Closing Thoughts00:17:04 - Conclusion

Julia Karungi, the founder of Bubbly Limited, a company focused on natural and biodegradable cleaning products in Uganda shares her shift from the restaurant business to creating natural oil and hygiene products, overcoming challenges in a market dominated by chemical-based cleaners. With her insights into how COVID-19 changed hygiene practices and the importance of sustainable solutions, Julia highlights the opportunities for new graduates and policymakers in the manufacturing and hygiene sectors. Discover how Babbly is combating epidemics through better hygiene practices and what it takes to build a middle-class economy in Uganda.00:00 Introduction to Natural Oil SOS00:49 Challenges in Personal Hygiene01:12 Meet Julia Karungi: Founder of Babbly Limited01:42 Journey into the Hygiene Industry02:08 Impact of COVID-19 on Hygiene Practices03:41 Transition to Cleaning Products05:44 Opportunities in the Hygiene Sector08:30 Training and Mentorship Initiatives11:38 Personal Motivation and Business Growth15:50 Connecting Personal Journey to Business16:13 Challenges in Business Registration and Taxation17:55 Navigating Industry Regulations and Training19:25 Government Support and Market Penetration21:01 Achieving a Middle-Class Economy24:59 Sustainability and Natural Products27:47 Impact of COVID-19 on Lifestyle Choices29:03 Conclusion and Contact InformationFollow up on LinkedIn with her anywhere in her namesShare your feedback on what you think it will take for Uganda to achieve a middle class economy, and inquiries at onuganda@gmail.com or WhatsApp +25678537996. PODCAST DISCLAIMER. The views and opinions expressed in the episode are those of the individuals. They do not represent or reflect the official position of the ON Uganda Podcast, so we do not take responsibility for any ideas expressed by guests during the Podcast episode. You are smart enough to take out what works for you.As of 4.06.25

If your clinic isn't showing up on Google, you're handing patients and revenue to competitors. In this episode, you'll hear why ignoring SEO costs more than you think and how optimizing your online presence drives real growth.You'll discover:Why SEO matters for clinicsThe impact of skipping or pausing your SEO effortsHow to boost visibility, attract qualified patients, and increase revenueA simple way to calculate how much money you may be leaving on the tableWhether you're curious about SEO or ready to turn website traffic into foot traffic, this episode gives you clear, actionable steps to grow your clinic sustainably.Episode guide, blog post & show notes: https://propelyourcompany.com/hidden-price-of-ignoring-seo/Send in your questions. ❤ We'd love to hear from you!NEW Webinar: How to dominate Google Search, Google Maps, AI-driven search results, and get more new patients.>> Save your spot

Talking yourself into staying? Ignoring the voice telling you it's time to go? That heaviness in your gut is the answer. You're settling because it feels safer than facing the unknown, but it's costing you more than you realize. Ready to wake up? Casiah West and I are here to shake you out of it.Follow the pod on ⁠⁠⁠IG⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠.⁠⁠Follow Chloe on ⁠⁠IG⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ ⁠Follow Casiah and her pod

  Do you understand what the Bible says, if you see these type of people in need and you just go on your daily selfish life? Do you understand that the Bible has strong warnings against that type of behavior and attitude. He says, "If you help the least of my little ones, you're helping me." I believe someday in heaven, when the, the books are opened and, and, uh, some people are gonna literally be condemned, they'll say, "Why? Why?

Dreamerspro Declares the Lakers Season Over After Latest Turn, Video Shows Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers Ignoring Ty Lue, Lakers Make a Key Decision on Bronny James After Injury Loss, Charles Barkley Reveals the Night His Friendship With Michael Jordan Ended Download the PrizePicks app today and use code CLNS and get $50 instantly when you play $5! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Father Robert Sirico joins Freddy Gray to discuss the imprisonment of Jimmy Lai – the British passport holder and Hong Kong media tycoon facing life in jail for opposing the Chinese Communist Party. Sirico reflects on Lai's rise from poverty, his Catholic faith, the collapse of freedoms in Hong Kong, and why the West has failed to mount a serious campaign for his release.Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts. Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Seven Ways to Know You're in the Will of God • Sunday Service Website: www.PastorTodd.org To give: www.ToddCoconato.com/give Seven Ways to Know You're in the Will of God (And How You Know When You're Not) Let me tell you something up front: The will of God is not a mystery! Religion paints this picture like God is hiding His will from you, and you've got to stumble around in the dark hoping you trip into it. No! God's will is clear, God's will is knowable, and God's will brings you into blessing and kingdom advancement. If you're not in the will of God, you're wasting time, spinning your wheels, and giving the devil a foothold in your life. But when you're in His will, you don't just survive—you multiply, you advance, and you shake the nations for Christ. 1. Peace in Your Spirit Scripture: “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.” — Colossians 3:15 (NKJV) 2. Confirmation by the Word of God Scripture: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” — Psalm 119:105 (NKJV) 3. Fruitfulness and Multiplication Scripture: “You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?” — Matthew 7:16 (NKJV) 4. Open Doors by God's Hand Scripture: “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.” — Revelation 3:8 (NKJV) 5. The Witness of the Holy Spirit Scripture: “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” — Romans 8:16 (NKJV) 6. Provision in the Assignment Scripture: “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 4:19 (NKJV) 7. Advancing the Kingdom of God Scripture: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” — Matthew 6:33 (NKJV) How You Know You're NOT in the Will of God Let me hit this quickly and clearly. The Bible shows us markers of being outside His will: 1. Confusion and unrest. “For God is not the author of confusion but of peace.” — 1 Corinthians 14:33 (NKJV) 2. Compromise against Scripture. “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you… let him be accursed.” — Galatians 1:8 (NKJV) 3. Lack of fruit. “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered.” — John 15:6 (NKJV) 4. Constant striving with no breakthrough. “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.” — Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NKJV) 5. Ignoring conviction. “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” — Ephesians 4:30 (NKJV) 6. Living in lack. “You have sown much, and bring in little… he who earns wages, earns wages to put into a bag with holes.” — Haggai 1:6 (NKJV) 7. Self-glory instead of God's glory. “I am the Lord, that is My name; and My glory I will not give to another.” — Isaiah 42:8 (NKJV) Conclusion Friend, the will of God is not something you have to stumble into—it's something you step into by faith and obedience. When you're in His will, peace rules your heart, doors open, fruit multiplies, provision flows, and the Kingdom advances. When you're out of it, confusion reigns, doors slam shut, provision dries up, and your life feels like pushing a boulder uphill. Make up your mind tonight: I will live in the center of God's will. I will not be distracted. I will not compromise. I will not settle. Because when you're in His will—you're unstoppable.

We love to say we're Agile… but then we bury our teams under complexity, overstuffed user stories, bloated processes, and “just in case” documentation.In this episode, Kate Megaw and Ryan Smith unpack one deceptively simple piece of Scrum wisdom inspired by a quote from Steven Merchant: You can always simplify.From product backlog items that read like novels, to daily scrums that feel like executive status meetings, to processes that exist only because “that's the rule” - this conversation dives into why teams overcomplicate, how fear sneaks into our work, and what Scrum looks like when we finally let go.If your teams feel busy but not effective, this one's for you.

Elf on a Shelf: Part 2 Life in hob-along mode. Based on a post by LingeringAfterthought, in 3 parts. Listen to the Podcast at Steamy Stories. When she woke the next morning, Zach was standing next to the bed with a pain pill and a glass of water. "Terry's gonna be here in about half an hour. I could make you some breakfast?" he said, putting the pill and the water into her hand. Honey shook her head, feeling the weight of the world on her shoulders. "I'd; I'd like to take a shower before I go; if that's okay," she asked. "Right; uh; I'll just set it up for you. I'll get your things together after you're done in there; if you still want to go, that is; Honey closed her eyes and nodded, "Thank you," she whispered, unable to look at the silent pleading in his face. When the shower was ready, Zach carried her down the stairs and set her down in his large walk-in shower on the bathing chair he'd set up for her. "I, uh; I warmed up the water. The; soap and shampoo stuff is right here," he said, gesturing to a collection of bottles put down within her reach. "If you need anything, I'll be right; right here," he said, sitting down on the toilet, looking like he didn't know what to do with his hands. Honey nodded and took off her nightgown and panties, putting them on the floor outside the shower. She leaned down and began unwrapping the velcro the straps on her boot, finding that she couldn't reach the last one. She opened her mouth to ask for help, but Zach was already sliding the door open to undo it for her. When he disassembled the boot around her foot and lifted it away, a slight whimper escaped her when the motion bumped her ankle slightly. Zach's eyes flashed to hers as she tried to cover herself with her arms, "I'm okay," she whispered. Clenching his jaw, Zach nodded, stood and left the stall. The water felt like heaven after the sad sponge baths she had given herself in bed. Her skin came alive in the heat and flushed a deep pink. "Is that too hot? You're getting red," Zach said, standing next to the door looking concerned. "No; it's perfect," she sighed. She twisted around to reach the shampoo and tipped it over, groaning as she watched it roll out of reach. Zach reached into the stall and returned it to her, growling in annoyance as he watched her try to squeeze some out with only one fully functional arm. Soon, he stepped into the shower with her, clad only in his underwear. "I don't know how you think you're going to do this by yourself; he grumbled, glaring at her as he massaged the shampoo into her long hair. "I'll figure it out; put a folding chair in the tub or something," she said, trying not to notice that the fabric of his underwear was leaving nothing to the imagination the wetter it got. "A fucking folding chair will slip. I'll send this one with you. You still can't reach shit, though." "I haven't done this before. I'll get better as I go." "Yeah, but until then, you'll; Look, you need to give me a call when you; so that I know you're okay." "You wouldn't be able to hear me talk; the water makes this growling noise," she said. "Well, why the fu; never mind. You call me before and after. No longer than 10 minutes, or I send Terry." "And he just does whatever you tell him? You're really kinda bossy." "Glad we sorted that out. Put your head back." With a smirk, Honey leaned back, letting him support her with his arm as he rinsed the shampoo out of her hair. After one minute, Zach began swearing under his breath. "I've been rinsing this shit out of your hair forever and there's still more! How the fuck is this possible?" Honey began giggling, despite the pain it caused her shoulder. "I guess you should allow me longer than 10 minutes to shower, then; she murmured. "Ten fucking minutes, or I send Terry." "Do you have any conditioner?" "Any what?" "Never mind," Honey said, trying to control her face. When he finally released her from being rinsed, Honey grabbed the loofa and put some body wash on it, washing what she could reach with her right arm while Zach glared down at her. "Oh, for fuck's sake," he grated, roughly taking the fluffy sponge from her and then washing her with surprising gentleness. When he delicately supported and washed her broken ankle, he waited until he finished before looking up at her, "Remember, doctor says you can take off your boot for a while now and then, so that should help with the smell. I'll pack the extra sock so you can put a clean one on and wash the; well, just how the fuck are you going to do the laundry?" he asked, as if she created the concept of dirty laundry just to bother him. "Hand wash?" she suggested. "That won't work for these boot socks! They smell like gangrene or some shi;" "Well, now you're just flirting; she said, smiling up at him. For a moment Zach's face went completely blank, his eyes slowly traveling down her naked body as his face turned bright red, then he turned away and cursed under his breath again. "Grab onto my arm and I'll finish you up," he said, clenching his jaw and holding out his forearm to her, as he diligently looked away. Cautiously, she took his arm and tried to stand, rising wobbly on her left leg. Before she could gain her balance, her hand slipped on his wet arm and he pulled her tightly against him before she could fall. Body to body, they clung on to each other in the hot spray, each of them shaking. "Honey; you may notta noticed, but I'm hanging on by a fucking thread, here," Zach said quietly in her ear, "Try not to get yourself killed for two seconds." Honey nodded and wrapped her arms around his waist so that he could move his arms again. She felt him move the loofah between her legs and begin washing her private area, looking around the shower stall as he did. When Honey cringed and her breath hissed between her teeth, he stopped, "What's wrong?" he asked, looking down at her face. "It's; rough; she said, quietly. "Yeah, but it was fine when; oh; right; sensitive. Okay; he said, swallowing as he tossed the loofah aside and hesitantly reached his fingers between her legs. Honey leaned her forehead on his chest and closed her eyes, gasping when his fingers made contact. "Is that; is that okay?" he asked. She nodded and tried to move her legs further apart for him. Zach gently washed her, trying to think of sports scores, laxative commercials, or the accounts payable at the club, but inevitably his cock noticed that he was holding the woman of his dreams naked in his arms. When she shifted against him, trying to keep her balance, a breathy grunt escaped him as she inadvertently rubbed against him. "I'm sorry; she whispered, trying to give him more room. "Don't be; you're perfect; it's fine; he said, trying to think about anything but how it would feel to slide his cock between her slippery lips right at that moment. "Let me just get the; water; he gritted, reaching for the shower sprayer and directing it between her legs. Honey gasped and whimpered as the water pulsed against her clit, down her labia and over her anus again and again, feeling Zach's eyes on her as he did it, intensely absorbing her every reaction. She trembled as she held on to him, trying to remain calm. Finally, she raised her eyes up to him and opened her wet lips and whispered, "Zach; ?" "Hey, how do you guys want your eggs?" Terry asked, sticking his head into the bathroom. "Get The Fuck Out Of Here, Maggot!" Zach roared, as Honey squealed and released him, quickly ducking down to where Terry couldn't see her on the shower chair. "Scrambled, it is," Terry said, ducking out of the bathroom and leaving them alone again. Zach watched Honey begin to shiver as the room cooled off and handed her a towel. "Let me know when you're dry and I'll wrap up your leg again," he said, looking around the bathroom uncomfortably before wrapping a towel around his waist and taking off his wet underwear from underneath. After securing her ankle in the air cast, Zach carried her back up to the bedroom, turned his back to her, and blocked Terry's kitchen view of the loft as Honey dressed. When she finished, Zach turned around again, his mouth hardening into a grim line when he saw she had put on her elf dress again. "You're; going, then," he said, frowning as he watched her wince at the pain in her shoulder as she tried to tie the thick red ribbon belt behind her back. He stepped behind her and took the belt out of her hands and began brusquely tying it. "I want you to stay," he said to the back of her head, tugging the loops into a tight knot. Honey hobbled around to face him, "Enough to tell me why you wanted to send that message to someone?" she asked him, her dark blue eyes somber. "You; you wouldn't want to stay if I did," he murmured, stroking the soft velvet covering her arms. "Then, I guess I should go," she said, looking away before she could start crying again. "Wow, nice apartment!" Terry said, following Honey inside her apartment with the bag of her clothes. "The blood stains really bring the room together; "Say what you will, it's all mine," she said, hobbling over to the sofa and curling up, exhausted. "Here's your mail. I gotta text Zach, he's going nuts; well, more than usual, anyway," he said, handing her a stack of envelopes. "Arrived at hellhole; Angel has typhoid; the tweakers give their love; send food stamps," he said aloud, typing into his phone as Honey went through her mail. "Let me go set up the bath chair; just the thing to class up the joint," he said, disappearing to the bathroom. When Terry returned, he found Honey white as a sheet, reading a letter. "Whoa, kid; you okay? Need a pain pill? Let me take you back to Zach's. You look like you really do have typhoid; he said, kneeling down next to her. "Um; yeah, I'm fine," she said faintly, then cleared her throat. "Would; would you mind taking that laptop with you when you go deliver the charity gifts to the firm? They; asked me to send it back; probably upgrading; she said, quickly wiping the tears off her cheeks. Terry watched her for a long moment, his face grim, and don't mention it to Zach?" he finished. "Um; probably not?" Honey choked. "Ah, Honey; you have hospital bills. This is where a sensible person starts telling themself, 'Hey self, maybe I should go back to that really great guy that wants to take care of me," Terry said, closing her laptop and wrapping the power cord around it. "If he's such a great guy, why does he send people messages like this?" she asked, holding up the screenshot to him. After staring at the screen for a while, Terry let out a low whistle, "Now, see, Zach just puts it right out there. You gotta respect that. No wonder he got so much ass. He send this to you?" "He said he meant to send it to someone else, but what are you talking about? He sent this to me on our first date when he went to the restroom! I thought he wanted to kill me!" Terry canted his head and looked at the screenshot again, "Oh; yeah, I could see that. Especially if you got it without the dick pic," he said, nodding sympathetically. "No, see, this was sort of a sex S O S, if you will. A guy goes out with a girl like you, it's like a high-wire act. He gets all wound up, needs to blow off some steam, sends out a flare hoping someone can help him take the edge off things so you don't find out what a high-strung, rough sex freak he is. You're a big deal. He just didn't want to scare you off, Angel," Terry explained. "He; he wanted to go have sex with someone else after our date??" Honey yelled, incensed. "Only because he *liked* you so much!" Terry argued, winsomely. Just then, Honey's phone rang in his hand and he tapped the screen, "Honey's phone!" he answered. "Don't Ever Talk To Me Again!" Honey yelled at her phone when she saw it was Zach's number. "Ah yeah?" Terry said, holding the phone to his ear. "Yeah. Right. Be right over," he said, disconnecting the call and handing the phone back to Honey. "What did he say?" Honey asked, grinding her teeth. Terry leaned over and flipped her phone back to the screenshot that had frightened her so much, "Yeah; pretty much that; just without the sex. See you when I get out of the hospital, kid," he sighed. During the next week, Honey took a bus to the city hall offices and applied for unemployment, used the library computers to send out her resume and read her email, and got no calls whatsoever from Zach. Gatsby's, however, started having trouble with their delivery service and three meals a day were accidentally delivered to her disreputable apartment. When she called Gatsby's about it, she was assured they were working on it and were sure to fix the delivery service problem; as soon as they got a delivery service. The following week, Honey got a knock at her door. Promising herself she would open the door only for the pleasure of slamming it shut in the visitor's stupid, handsome face, Honey hobbled up and looked through the peep hole. It wasn't who she expected, though. "Um, hi; she said, opening the door a bit and tightening her robe. "Hi Honey, I'm Jeff. You probably don't remember;" "I remember you," Honey said, opening the door wider. "Please come in." "Thank you," he said, coming in and standing with his coat over his arm as she hobbled back to the couch. "Jeff, I always wanted to call Gatsby's and thank you; you know, for what you did," Honey said. "For the 'angel shot.' I didn't realize I was on a date with the owner, at the time. I hope it didn't make trouble for you," she said. "You're kidding, right? He fired me on the spot," Jeff laughed. "Oh no; she said, covering her face with her hands. "Oh, I'm so sorry." "No, it's okay. He hired me back as a manager a couple weeks ago. Said anyone who had the balls to do what it took to protect you, even from him, that was someone he wanted taking care of his customers. Actually said that, looking back, if you had been scared enough to ask someone for help back then and they *didn't* help you, well, he'd probably want to go find them and; and; well, the details don't matter, and they're probably illegal, anyway. The point is, we're good." "Oh, that's; that's good to hear. Is this about the delivery service problem, then?" "We don't have a delivery service." "Well, yeah, I know. I mean the meals that Zach is making you send me." "Um; I'm probably going to get my life threatened for telling you this, but we're not sending you meals. Zach's popping in and out with a lot of takeout boxes under his arm, but Gatsby's isn't sending you any meals, Honey. That's; that's all Zach." "Oh; Honey said, her cheeks warming. "Yeah, no I came to ask if you'd be interested in a job." Honey laughed, "I appreciate it, but don't think I'd make much of a waitress right now." "Actually, I kinda had something else in mind; Honey's heart pounded as the music swelled and she felt the platform descend, her legs dangling down clad in candy cane striped stockings and curled-toe shoes. Her dress was the same pink velvet and white fur trim costume as before, but the fabric was far more luscious and expensive than the dress she'd worn in the mall. It had arrived at her door with a seamstress tasked with making it fit flawlessly. Honey's eyes were closed out of habit, getting ready to sing for the clientele of the great room as Gatsby's "Elf on a Shelf." She knew he was out there. He always came out of hiding when she sang. A smile curled across her face as she felt the spotlight warm her body. She opened her eyes. After the show, Honey stripped off her tights and a stage hand gave her the air cast as soon as the platform had risen out of sight. Gingerly, she eased her leg back into the boot and began strapping herself in again. As she reached the last fastener, two large hands took the straps out of hers and began wrapping them expertly. Honey blushed and looked aside as Zach did it, and tried not to roll her eyes when he checked the other two straps to be sure she had secured them properly. His eyes wandered over her with nervous adoration, like he still couldn't quite convince himself she was real; even after the mundane work of feeding her, dressing her, and cleaning her all those days up in his loft. "Did you like the show?" she asked quietly, looking up at him with a small smile. Zach sighed with relief, having received tacit permission to speak to her again. "Yes," he said. "Did you really like it?" she asked, her eyes twinkling, her smile growing bigger. "I really; really liked it," Zach said, nodding and pulling at the collar of the dress shirt that was having trouble containing him. He seemed to have only grown larger in their weeks apart. "So much that you want to go have rough sex with somebody else tonight?" she asked, her large and deceptively innocent, twinkling eyes skewering him. Zach's mouth set, "I; I don't do that anymore. I exercise," he said quietly, reddening and looking away from her. "Oh; I see," Honey said, nodding. Ignoring the hands he offered her, Honey rolled herself onto her good knee and clumsily pushed herself back up into a standing position, her skirt flashing him as she rose. "What the fuck is that?" Zach yelled, pulling her skirt up to where a large purpling bruise was blooming on her hip. Honey bit her lips and forced her face to stop grinning before she turned and faced him again. "What's what?" she asked innocently. "What the hell do you think? That fucking huge purple ass-shiner you're walking around with! Where the fuck did that come from?" he roared. "Oh, that? I slipped. You know, it's icy out there; she said brightly, patting his chest and hobbling past him to her dressing room. Zach clenched his hands and followed her, growling things under his breath that would make a sailor blush. She wobbled into the dressing room, leaving the door open behind her, wondering if he would follow her in. He didn't, but instead stood there in the doorway glowering at her like a gargoyle as she pulled some clothes out of a large Gatsby's takeout bag. Honey's ribs were beginning to hurt from trying not to laugh. Honey breath hissed through her teeth as she reached behind her, fumbling with the knot of her wide red ribbon belt, her shoulder still healing from the dislocation. Before long, she heard muttered curses and large feet stomp into the room and push her hands aside, untying the belt for her. She smiled her thanks up at him over her shoulder, and moved her hair aside so he could help her with the zipper. Carefully, he smoothed some more of her hairs aside and slowly lowered the clasp. "So, um; how would it have worked?" she asked quietly, the softness of her voice making him lean in to hear her. Zach cleared his throat, "How would what have worked?" he asked, his breath falling warm on her neck as he tried to unclasp the tiny hook at top of the dress with his large fingers. "If we'd gotten together that night; if I'd never got that message," she said. Zach closed his eyes and shook his head. "I would've taken you home. Maybe tried for a kiss at your door, if you looked like you wanted it," he said, his voice hoarse. "Cheek or lips?" she asked. He sighed, "Who am I kidding? I would've passed out from not breathing by the time I got that close." "And those; other things; would you have wanted to do those things to me? To hurt me; to scare me?" she asked, her voice shaking. Zach turned her to look her in the eye, and she wrapped her arms around herself, keeping the unzipped, loose elf dress from falling down. "No Honey," he swore, shaking his head emphatically, cupping her face and holding her tightly. "God no. Never. Never ever. I would've never let you see that side of me. I'd give it up. I gave it up. I'd go run ten miles before I even;" his impassioned vows were interrupted by a loud crack as a delicate hand slapped him across the face. "How dare you?" Honey said, trembling with fury before she winced and cradled her hand to her chest as Zach blinked slowly in disbelief, trying to process what had happened. "That's for deciding you'd just have a boring, unsatisfied sex life with me without even asking what I wanted, you; you overbearing ass! That's for offering only a part of yourself to me! That's for ruining our beautiful date because you were ashamed of the man I lo;" Honey's uncharacteristic rage was interrupted by Zach's mouth descending on hers and claiming it furiously, pressing her against the wall as her dress fell to the floor. The kiss ended almost as quickly as it began, and Zach pulled away from her, his face a twitching, terrifying storm as he stared down at her. He wrapped his hand around the slender wrist of her only functional arm and pressed it to the wall over her head. "You don't hit me like that; ever," he said quietly, breathing hard through flared nostrils. Honey trembled, staring up into his blazing eyes almost panting against him in terror; but also in something else. The corner of Zach's mouth curled when he saw her deep blue eyes dilate hugely, a heady, familiar scent rising up between them. "You don't fucking hit anyone like that; goddamn amateur. You wanna break your wrist? Jesus Christ. Get your ass dressed and I'll take you home, you little freak," he growled, turning around to give her privacy and hide the huge smile he couldn't stop from covering his face. When Honey came up panting for air, she was pressed against the wall of Zach's loft as he fumbled with the locks of his door with one hand. She was making good progress at getting his shirt off, but it kept bunching up around his arms, and the cuffs were still a problem she didn't even want to think about. Even so, she was blissfully occupied with the acres of warm bare skin and muscle that she had excavated. "This isn't my home; she said, looking around bewildered, "why does everyone get my address wrong?" "Probably because they've blocked it out after seeing your place. Shut up and tell me what you want," Zach said, carrying her over to the stairs until he saw a bit of her lower lip he needed to bite and had to take a break to do it properly. "Look, don't give me names, because then I'd have to kill 'em, but tell me what makes you hot, Honey; we're gonna do all of it and more. I'm making your dreams come true, tonight," he said, winding his hand in her hair as she dropped her head back to give him her neck. "Oh! Um; I liked it when;" "No names," he reminded her, covering her mouth. "Right; well, this one guy, he um; he wore a towel around his waist and bent over his dresser to look for his underwear? And this other time, he held this spoon out to me and I opened my mouth and he fed me. And; and; um; in the shower, he; he held me against him in the water and;" "Honey, are all these stories gonna be about me?" "Um; yeah?" "That's sweet of you, tryin' to keep me outta jail and all, but I need you to get to the part about cock and pussy. Stories about me aren't gonna help that. Cock, pussy, tongue, ass, tits, ears, neck, taint - what do you like?" he asked "Right; uh; I liked it when you washed me down there; my pussy; with your fingers?" Honey said, at a loss. Zach drew his head back from her neck and looked at her, his face growing uneasy. "Honey?" "And when you sprayed the water back and forth down there, especially the top bump part, that really made me feel amazing, kind of squirmy, you know?" "Oh Jesus; he said, looking as if he'd been hit in the head. "And um; I know I wasn't supposed to look, but your um; you know; p-penis; in the shower, when your underwear got wet? That was" "I don't feel so good; he said, lowering himself to the floor and sitting down on the stairs. "No, no, it's fine. We can do this. What's a taint and what do I do with it?" she asked, sitting down and cuddling up next to him. Zach held his head in his hands, "You're a virgin; not like an "everything but" Evangelical, but like an alien or something. I don't know if I can do this." "Look, I know how to have sex; I had health class, for Pete's sake!" she said, slapping his shoulder. "What the fuck did I just get myself into?" he said through his hands. Honey pulled his hands down from his face and climbed up in his lap, putting his arms around her and looping her arms around his neck. "Zach; I have been a very good girl; not just this year, but for a long, long time. I figure that makes it so I can ask for something really big. So, here's what I want: I want you and me; just being together. Not planned or rehearsed or trying to be impressive. You already impress me. You're the best person I know. You took care of me when you hated me. You took care of me, even when I hated you. I just want to see what it's like if we let go of all that and just; you know; love. Will you give me that for Christmas, Santa? Please?" she asked, leaning in and kissing his cheek softly. "I've; never done that before," he said stiffly, looking sideways at her, unable to turn his head. "I'll be gentle with you," she whispered, smiling and brushing her lips against his. Climbing down from his lap, she took his hand in hers and led him up the stairs; until he lost patience with her hobbling and lifted her in his arms, carrying her to the top. Honey smiled as he gently lowered her feet to the floor, then took his hand and worked on the buttons of his cuff, "You're really big, but you don't do that big guy thing where you act like nothing matters. You notice everything; I like that," she said, glancing up at him. Zach frowned, watching her and then looking around the room, uncomfortable. "That's just; you gotta do that. You can't just throw your weight around without knowing where it's going. You're gonna hurt someone that way," he demurred, unbuttoning the cuff for her and tugging the other loose, as well. "You give a lot, but you're not a show-off about it; you didn't even let me know it wasn't Gatsby's sending food to me," she said, pulling his shirt down off his shoulders, pressing her face into his back to smell him. "You needed protein, calcium, and vitamin D to build those bones again -- that ramen shit you eat wasn't gonna give you enough of anything; just empty carbs and fuckin' sodium," he argued, putting his hands on his hips and scowling at her. Honey smiled and nodded, unbuckling his belt and slowly pulling it out of the loops. Zach swallowed, "You; you also needed vitamins C and K, so I made sure you got things like broccoli and fish and citrus; not; not everybody knows that," he said, drawing a shaky breath. "I didn't know that," she said, separating the hook and eye of his trousers and unzipping them, smiling when he cleared his throat and breathed faster as she lowered them. "You're smart, but you don't need everyone to know about it. You watch how people treat you when they think you're simple, instead; you want to know who they really are." Zach pulled his legs out of his trousers and laid them carefully over the chair, glancing over to the closet where he really wanted to put them instead. Honey smirked and turned to go get a hanger for him, and he swept her down onto the bed instead, going to get the hanger for himself and carefully hanging his pants to avoid any creases. Zach returned to the bed, standing in front of her knees where she sat, waiting. Honey moved her hands curiously over his hips and thighs, feeling the strength, the hours of toil and exertion he put them through; so that he could have control and be gentle when he needed to be. "You care about what I want; she said, swallowing and slowly sliding his underwear down his hips, gasping in surprise when his cock bounced out and waved at her. "You care about it even when you think I'm wrong; and it makes me love you so much; she said, trailing off and blushing. "You; got my clothes off," he said, looking down at her, his face a mix of bewilderment and wonder. "I guess you see all of me, now," he said, blushing for the first time since she'd known him. Smiling, she pulled her dress over her head and tossed it aside. She winced, reaching back trying to un-do her bra, and instead of helping her as usual, Zach narrowed his eyes, tilting his head. "You do that on purpose, don't you? Doing shit that hurts right in front of me instead of asking me for help. Showing off that fucking bruise to me at the club. Showing me what happens when I can't take care of you; you actually get off on driving me crazy," he said in outraged realization. "You really want to do that rough sex stuff on me, now, don't you," Honey said, her eyes alive with mischief. "Like you wouldn't believe; he said, flipping her over, straddling her back and unclasping her bra. Honey squealed and giggled when he laid himself out over her back, careful to avoid her shoulder and ankle. "You feel that cock, all hard and ready on your panties and between your legs down there? You don't get him now, brat," he growled, pushing her hair aside and biting the back of her neck. "Not until you beg me." "Okay! Please?" she asked, giggling. Zach looked over at her, trying to hold a stern face, "Yeah, that's not how this works. The way this works is, I make you want it so much that you think you're going out of your mind, and *then* you beg me." "Okay!" she chirped. "Oh, fucking hell; he grumbled, trying not to laugh. He nipped all over her back, enjoying her squeaks and gasps, wiggling under him as her need grew. She seemed completely unaware of how she was responding to him, but he proudly basked in her every flutter. He kissed down to the small of her back, hearing her breath stop and then resume at a pant when he began to lower her panties. "Zach; Zach; Honey whimpered. "Yes, Honey?" he smiled, kissing the top of the crease of her bottom, flicking it slightly with his tongue. "Does it; does it always go this slow?" she asked, raising her bottom to him and moaning when he slid his fingers through her crack, making her jump and then grab onto his thigh. "Are you in a hurry?" he murmured, stroking his fingers leisurely around her clit and into her vagina, "Some other pressing; engagement?" he asked, pressing his finger against her hymen and laughing evilly at her shocked, yet needful, reaction. "Yeah; it would feel good to have a hot deep cock in there, wouldn't it?" he asked, thrusting gently into her with his finger. "Zach; Honey moaned, squirming under him. "I like that word 'engagement; '" Zach mused idly, "don't you?" he asked, raising one of her knees up to her side, sliding his cock along her crack, wetting it until it glistened in her juices. "Zach, please; please; please; she gasped, feeling him rise up over her again, pressing against her entry, "I need you; she whispered. "I need you, too, Honey. I've needed you for so long; he answered, parting her lips and moving into her with slow, gentle thrusts. Honey trembled under him, holding her breath, feeling him fill her more and more, until with a slight sharp pain, she took him into her. "Oh; oh; oh; oh; she whimpered. "Just breathe, Honey. You're doing great; perfect. I'm not moving till you're ready," Zach said, reaching deep for control. A sheen of sweat broke over him at the sheer effort of holding himself back from plunging furiously into her body again and again and again. "Is; is this the rough sex part?" she breathed, reaching out to touch the hand he was using to keep most of his weight off her. Zach barked out a breathless laugh, clasping her hand in his, "I don't know about you, but this is about as rough as I can take it, tonight. You're fucking killing me, right now. But, being inside you; it's like magic." Honey moved her head and kissed his forearm, "Be inside me again, Zach; she whispered. With a low sigh, he began moving inside her, his hips pressing and rolling against her, his cock stroking a patient rhythm. She sighed with happiness, feeling him explore and claim her at the same time. His lips moved over her neck and back as he leisurely took her, whispering praise and encouragements, waiting for her to adjust to him. Before long, though, his words stopped, his body growing harder around her, his every muscle stiffening as he gripped her hand harder, his thrusts quickening until, with a soft, surprised grunt, he thrust deep and shook as he emptied himself inside her. With explosive breaths, he rolled off her, pulling her against him in the bed. "Well, fuck; he said in disgust between gasps. "Yeah; Honey said, snuggling back against him happily, "that was perfect; Zach snorted, "No it wasn't, you noob. You didn't come. I fucked it up." "What do you mean? What makes you think I didn't come? That felt great! Let's do that all the time," Honey said, turning in his arms so she could smile at him. "I would've felt it if you came, Honey; it gets tight and squeezes you, almost like it's sucking on you; drinking you down; he said, smiling down at her with rueful affection. "Well, I don't know how it's supposed to get any tighter than that was. I think you're expecting too much of me. Maybe I did come; she argued. "Honey, trust me; when I make you come, you'll know about it," he said, reaching down and caressing her clit with his fingers. "Oh, that's nice; you did that in the shower," Honey cooed, moving her boot up over his hips so he could reach her more easily. "I didn't fucking do this to you in the shower. I fucking washed you. I was a fucking gentleman. People cut diamonds with less fucking focus than I had in that fucking shower. I was just taking care of business, then," he grumbled, leaning down to nuzzle her neck. "I guess; I guess, I took advantage of you, then; s-sorry; oh; she said, raising her hips to him as her breathing became irregular, her head tossing from side to side. "Well, unless I'm wrong, you are about to really pay for it in 3, 2, 1" Zach said, when Honey screamed high and long, her hips bucking as she came hard, covering his hand in her sweet nectar and then bursting into tears. Zach held her close as Honey wailed in pain, stroking her body gently, "Yeah; see, that boot can do a lot, but it can't do squat about it when every muscle in your body wants to stiffen up as you come," he said, still soothing her. Honey slapped his shoulder, "That; that was mean! Don't you ever make me come again!" she panted against him, her face still twisted in slowly receding pain. "Uh huh; Zach said, glancing at the alarm clock on his nightstand, "we'll see how long that lasts, you little freak," he said with a smirk, leaning down to kiss her tears away.  To be continued in part 3, Based on a post by Lingering Afterthought, in 3 parts, for Literotica.

Welcome to the DMF! I'm Justin Younts, and in this episode, Christine La Monte shares an extraordinary creative journey that began in Rome in 2012. That pivotal moment marked her introduction to a gifted young filmmaker, Maxime Derevenko, who would later emerge as an influential voice in the worlds of opera and film.Christine reflects on how their collaboration grew through shared curiosity, mentorship, and artistic trust—eventually leading to a powerful opera project rooted in themes of social justice, peace, and human connection. As the world entered the uncertainty of the pandemic, this work took on even greater meaning, becoming a testament to the resilience of artists and the enduring power of creativity.She discusses the profound experience of collaborating with Ai Weiwei and the Rome Opera House, and how that partnership offered a bold, global perspective on art's role in times of crisis. Despite having only eight performances, the opera stood as a beacon of hope and reflection during a moment when art felt more essential than ever.Christine emphasizes the importance of mentorship and nurturing emerging talent, sharing how storytelling through art can elevate consciousness and inspire meaningful dialogue. In this conversation, she invites us to explore a world where every voice matters and creativity becomes a force for change.Join us as we celebrate the power of collaboration, storytelling, and art's ability to guide us toward a brighter future.00:00:00 - Introduction00:00:06 - Beginning of Film Career00:00:25 - Meeting Maxime Derevenko00:01:55 - Working with Ai Weiwei00:04:42 - Impact of COVID-1900:05:31 - Restarting in 202200:06:59 - Reflections on the Film00:07:47 - Film's Oscar Consideration00:08:22 - Role of Activism00:09:19 - Teaching at the School of Visual Arts00:11:01 - Reflections on Film Industry00:12:22 - Looking Back at Career00:13:31 - Passion for Teaching00:14:47 - Importance of Art and Culture00:16:20 - Closing Thoughts00:17:04 - Conclusion

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

King Charles has spoken out in support of persecuted Christians around the world after attending a service at Westminster Abbey dedicated to those facing violence and discrimination for their faith. It comes amid renewed international focus on the treatment of Christians, after Donald Trump threatened action against Nigeria over killings, and comedian Bill Maher described the situation there as a “genocide”.Tim Stanley is joined by Father Benedict Kiely who runs Nasarean.org, a charity that advocates on behalf of Christians and helps them to stay in their countries by funding start-ups. They talk about the Middle East, what is happening in Nigeria and the status of Christians today. We want to hear from you! Email us at thedailyt@telegraph.co.uk or find @dailytpodcast on TikTok, Instagram and X► Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditorProducer: Lilian Fawcett and Georgia CoanSenior Producer: David LeveneExecutive Producer: Louisa WellsVideo Producer: Andy MackenzieStudio Operator: Meghan SearleSocial Producer: Nada AggourEditor: Camilla Tominey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thrive, a global technology outsourcing provider, is pursuing a $1 billion market position by the end of 2029, following significant revenue growth and 27 acquisitions since its inception. The company is focusing on enhancing its service offerings, particularly in managed artificial intelligence services, through a $100 million investment in its next-gen 3.0 platform. This shift raises critical questions for Managed Service Providers (MSPs) regarding who controls decision-making in IT operations as AI begins to play a more active role in execution rather than merely advisory functions. The integration of AI into managed services could lead to a concentration of power upstream, potentially undermining the authority and accountability of MSPs.Recent data on IT leadership diversity reveals that representation has stagnated, with 83% of IT leaders being white and over 78% male. This lack of diversity in leadership roles can create strategic blind spots, particularly as technology evolves rapidly. The report indicates that while there has been some improvement in gender representation among larger companies, racial diversity remains largely unchanged. This stability in leadership demographics may limit the perspectives necessary for effective technology governance, especially in a landscape increasingly influenced by AI and automation.Additional developments include the launch of the HiPori Partner Program, which aims to enhance secure mobile access for resellers and MSPs, and TD Cinex's AI Game Plan Workshop designed to assist partners in implementing AI solutions for their customers. These initiatives reflect a growing trend among technology providers to standardize outcomes and streamline processes, which may inadvertently reduce the differentiation and authority of MSPs as they adopt these frameworks.For MSPs and IT service leaders, the implications of these developments are significant. As AI-driven execution becomes more prevalent, MSPs must redefine their responsibility and authority to avoid unpriced liabilities. The current landscape suggests that those who can clearly articulate control and accountability in automated environments will have a competitive advantage. Ignoring these shifts could lead to operational risks and customer dissatisfaction, emphasizing the need for MSPs to adapt their strategies in response to the evolving technological landscape. Three things to know today 00:00 Thrive's $1B Ambition, OpenAI Investment, and AI Automation Push Highlight a Shift in Who Controls “Good IT”05:26 Q4 2025 IT Leadership Data Confirms a Five-Year Stall in Diversity Despite Rapid Technology Change10:56 Hypori, TD Synnex, and N-able Moves Show MSPs Trading Local Control for Centralized AI and Endpoint Frameworks This is the Business of Tech.     Supported by:  ingocni.com/tech10   PROMO CODE: tech10https://cometbackup.com/?utm_source=mspradio&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=sponsorship

Are you praying for the conversion of someone you love and feeling discouraged because nothing seems to be changing? In this episode, Fr Columba speaks directly to the frustration, disappointment, and even despair that can creep in when our prayers appear unanswered. He explains why God is never ignoring our conversion prayers, why He will never force belief, and how grace really works in the hearts of those we're praying for. This reflection invites us to let go of control, keep praying with faith and hope, and trust that God is doing far more than we can see.

Contact Welcomed HereResponsibility is the ability to respond - responsibly. Accountablity is the ability to count. Accounting done correctly adds up. Feeling like you don't count is the natural byproduct of thoughts that don't add up since they have no substantive basis. ALL Reality has substance. While substance is largely invisible it is also indivisible - which means it has no parts or pieces to separate or divide so cannot be in conflict. To think we can be separate from It is to think divisively about it and feel disconnected and alone is the natural byproduct of feeling unsubstantive thoughts. Essence is essential and not optional.  Indivisbility cannot be added to, reduced or fractured. IT IS Perfect Peace Silent and Still Presence. We now this or could not notice conflicts or disturbances. Splitting thougths into fractional concepts with a denominator of zero means no numerator can not be big enought to amount to anyting. When enough is never enough the mental impossbility of turning thoughts into reality has been induced. We do not struggle with Reality, Truth or LIfe. Our mentality struggles with how and what we think of them - along with the imagined self we can think we've become. Addiction is not impossible - but to continue the same thinking while wishfully hoping more insanity will resolve the problem only addes fuel to the fire of more obsessive thinking imagining nothing else can ever be done. If we didn't know better there would be nothing we could do.  We Know We Know. We Are Aware We Are Aware. We Are as We Are. Reality is unlimited and never changes. The idea that how and what we think creates reality suggests otherwise. Acting on backward thoughts leads to behaviors that are out of order reflecting a reversal of our natural fortune that are accurately called disorders. Anxious, nervous and systemic disorders reflect this impossible attempt to reverse Nature's Law and Order and our Universe's Essence. Dis-ease is the lack of ease created and maintained by such twisted mental acrobatics. Stress and Anxiety inhibit healing and compound and degrade health. Mentality is a bodily function. Mental disease is a physcial ailment. For as long as it is misdiagnosed - any cure or treatment will perpetuate its contagion. Principles affirm Our Indivisible nature. Sharing Principles confirms our natural indivisibility. Inspiration is natural while desperation, depression, degradation and acting oblivious to what is obvious is an unnatural choice to oppose reality which is impossible to accomplish though we are free to try. Ignoring what is happening, acting as though it shouldn't be or isn't happening, produces the unintelligible gibberish of ignorance - not reality.

A Holiday Haunting: Part 2 Jack and Erin deal with new problems. Based on a post by zeon 67. Listen to the ► Podcast at Explicit Novels. Jack's mouth painfully stretched open. He then released a long gasp, and his eyelids pulled back; he was now forcibly awake. Turning to his side, he found himself partially alone. Lucy was still there, deep in sleep, but no Erin. He called her name, but there was nothing. Putting on sweatpants and a t-shirt, Jack searched the house for her. He yelled her name and again there was no reply. It had never worked like that before, but Jack was desperate. He questioned himself, Lucy, the s ance and everything else. Worried that he had caused her banishment, Jack needed to interrogate the medium. But then the doorbell rang, and there was a knock at the door. Opening it, Jack saw a delivery man with a clipboard and a massive box. Annoyed that the new dryer he bought on Black Friday, had finally arrived a week late, he signed the paperwork but felt cold. Jack turned around but saw nothing. Terrified that he was losing it, Jack turned back to the delivery man. The delivery man wheeled the dryer in and took the clipboard off Jack, thanking him. The man then looked past Jack and said, "Morning, Miss." Behind him, Erin stood. Her mouth ajar and stood still, but wasn't her typical ghostly self. She looked like she did last night, her skin a pale pink while her hair was an auburn shade. Erin had the same clothes that Jack had seen for the previous fifteen years. But something was off. Erin had lost the white apron that covered most of the front, and the first two buttons of her collar were undone, possibly scandalous in the 19th century. "He saw me. He saw me." Erin said, walking towards the open door. She ignored Jack and edged closer to the outside, the fresh air, sounds of birds and something new to see calling her. Erin turned back to Jack and said, "Come with me." She then took one step outside and immediately disappeared. "Fuck!" Lucy screamed from upstairs.   A post-S ance exam. They sat around the coffee table, all struggling to think of anything to say. Jack and Lucy had run some basic tests on Erin. She could be seen but not be touched, but cameras could capture her. She couldn't feel anything, but could sit in a chair without phasing through it. Should she take a step outside the house's confines, Erin would instantly vanish and reappear in the attic. But Erin could change her appearance, though only subtly. Like she could roll up her sleeves, undo a button or two and play around her hair. That was a relief to Erin; she had only worn hair in a bob because Mrs. Franklin demanded it. "So, what now," Jack said, taking a sip of coffee. "I; I don't know," Lucy shook her head, "This is way out of my area of expertise. Honestly, I didn't even know that this could happen." "Would it be so wrong if I stayed like this?" Erin said, "I can speak and I can be heard." "But you can't touch anything." Lucy said. "And my parents are going to be back soon. Then it's Christmas and the house is going to be filled with people. I can see my mom and my aunts instantly freak out if they saw you float. And, I have to go back to Boston. I can't leave you like this." "I know." Erin then looked at Lucy and asked, "Can we not do the s ance again?" "Hell no." Lucy shook her head, emphatically underlining her point. "What we did and what happened, it's not the same. Jack was supposed to talk to you and help you move on. Nothing about sex. We did something, maybe something wrong, maybe something right. But it pulled you into this plane. If we do it again, who knows what happens to you?" "Then what next?" Jack asked. Lucy pushed her chair back and stood up. She madly scrolled through the contacts on her phone. "I need to speak to someone. Be back in a sec." Erin followed Lucy out of the room with her stare. She paused for a moment, then leaned in towards Jack. "We should talk." "Yeah." Jack said, trying to hide his nervousness. "I never thought that I would be here. I'd be a banshee, roaming this house until the Last Judgement. I accepted that. Now I can be seen by anyone. I can be spoken to and listened. I am lost and scared. What happens to us?" Jack rested his hand on over hers, sinking through her tangible form and said, "I'll work something out. Don't worry. My dad did say he is thinking about selling the house. Maybe I take it." Erin dropped her head down and said, "I cannot let you do that. Live your life with a spirit. It will be dull. And there is so much I want to see." Leaning back, Jack smiled back at her. This was the first time he could find out who Erin really is, as a person. "Like?" "I want to be in the sky, flying across the ocean. To travel to places that I have only seen briefly in those windows. The Grand Canyon, swim in an ocean and visit Kinsale." "Kinsale?" "It is where I was born. I left when I was twelve. I always wished that I would see the village again." "Anything else?" Erin looked away, like she was thinking; then turned back to Jack and said, "I want to eat food that hadn't been boiled. Wear something luxurious. I want to see a movie. And to kiss you again." She smiled. Lucy walked back into the room. She glanced at Erin, then at Jack, realizing something was up, but began talking. "Okay, I spoke to a friend. She knows a lot of left-hand path rituals, some chaos magic. You know, maybe sigils and secret names?" she said, nodding as if they knew what she meant. "She knows a couple of necromancers." "Necro-mancers?" Erin asked. "They talk to the dead. My friend's going to reach out and get us a name. Hopefully, one who just wants to talk to the dead and nothing more. A necromancer will know what to do." "So, we just wait?" Jack asked. Lucy nodded.    Home Alone. Days later, Erin stared at the TV. She was alone as Jack had to deal with the headache of Christmas preparations. He didn't want to leave her by herself, but Erin insisted that it was okay. This was something that Erin knew she had to get used to. She thought back to how difficult her life was before the s ance. Erin could easily take her current form as a constantly visible ghost, than that hell. One plus was now she could spend time with Jack. Last night, they spent hours talking. Jack told her everything that had happened to him since they last spoke. Erin was confused by his job, working as an engineer but with computers and clouds. Jack also showered her with questions about her own life. Her eyes widened after each question, and she grinned madly back at him. She told him about her life in Ireland, traveling across the Atlantic and working in Boston. Jack showed her current photos of how the city changed. She was amazed and saddened, seeing some of her favorite places of the city disappear. There was one question that Erin wouldn't answer. Jack had asked her where she would go, when she wasn't haunting the house. When he used to see her, it was only for an hour at most, then Erin would just fade away, and Jack would have to wait days or weeks to see her again. Erin couldn't say anything; she just looked away. She finally said it was difficult and Jack quickly changed the subject. The channel that Jack left the TV on was now playing another documentary about the World War. He told her it was a good idea for her to get used to the twenty-first century, but Erin couldn't stomach any more documentaries about the war. She understood Jack's reasoning; the other night, she cried in happiness that Ireland had become independent. A knock on the door turned Erin's head. There was no way it could be Jack. She could hear keys rattling and the door slowly open. Someone then called her name, a female voice. Erin phased through the walls to see who it was. She found Lucy standing outside, darting her head in and out. "Fuck!" Lucy stumbled back as she saw Erin appear, covering her mouth. She took a couple of deep breaths and then said, "Hi; Erin," Lucy nervously smiled, "Where's Jack?" "He has gone to a store called Walm Art. He will return in two hours' time, I hope." "Oh." Lucy paused. "Err, can I come in?" "Sorry," Erin stepped aside and allowed Lucy to enter. "Did Jack give you a key?" "Yeah," Lucy said, removing her jacket. "He swung by and said that I should have it, just in case." Muscle memory dictated her to ask for Lucy's coat and offer her a drink. Erin tried to hide her embarrassment while Lucy just smiled. Erin then followed her into the living room, trying to think about why she was here. She didn't like the idea that Lucy could enter the house whenever she wants. Erin knew the psychic was attracted to Jack; experiencing Lucy's feelings during the second time she possessed her. Erin couldn't help herself but checkout the medium's curvy frame as Lucy walked into the living room, hiding her disappointed face. "I have some news, but I will wait until Jack gets back. It'll be easier to explain. But it's good." Lucy grinned. She sat down on the sofa and asked, "What are you watching?" "A documentary about World War 2?" Erin said, not entirely convinced. "They call it World War 2 but do not say anything about a previous war." "Yeah, I can't remember what World War 1 was about. Might watch Wonder Woman again. Do you mind if I change the channel?" "Please," Erin replied, "It's depressing." She then joined her on the sofa. "So, how are you dealing with the modern world?" Lucy asked while flicking through the channels, stopping on at E. "It's pleasant. Yesterday, Jack showed me around the house and I was amazed. A dishwasher, a washing machine and an automated carpet cleaner. Those were most of my duties and would take half of my day. He showed me um moving photograph on his phone of places he has been to. I want to see them with my own eyes." "I'm guessing back in the 1880s travel was impossible." "Only by train or steam. Now you can fly anywhere," Erin smiled. "But what I'm most astonished by is being a woman. I died before I could vote and now a woman can run for President. I could only be a maid or work in a factory. Now there's so many possibilities." "That's really cool," Lucy said, smiling. Erin felt herself being distracted by the TV. She turned her head and saw a dozen of scantily-clad women grinding against men, who were topless and had bodies like circus strongmen. Her mouth dropped, watching as a woman sing to the camera. Lucy saw Erin's stunned expression and quickly changed the channel. "Sorry." "It's fine," Erin replied, "There is so much that is different. I need to adjust. It's just that if I were to go to a beach, I was expected to wear bloomers that covered my limbs. It is difficult to get used to being in an age were flesh is allowed." "I understand. It's okay to take your time." Lucy said. She then leaned closer and asked, "Sorry if this sounds idiotic. But you okay with me in general? Being a medium, the drinking and the sex before marriage?" Erin smiled and said, "I have lived in this household for over a century. My eyes have been open to many strange things. At first, I prayed for my soul and I thought my impurity was the cause of this life I was to live. As the years passed, I found myself losing that idea of sin. Families lived here, they indulged in vices that I found wicked. But they were still loving and moral people." "Wow," Lucy smirked and said, "One day, you must tell me what you saw over the years." Going back to Lucy's words and all the things she experienced got Erin thinking. In the hundred-odd years she had been trapped in this house, she had caught numerous couples screw late at night. Some were unmarried, others were of different races, which shocked her, but Erin found them loving, which just compounded to her jealousy. Erin had also seen couples have different types of sex, none like the ways she was told or experienced. Her fianc had been drunk during their entire courtships; she doubted he would have been sober enough to cock-stand. Robert just pushed her down on a billiards table and had his way with her. Erin thought she had enjoyed that, but it was nothing compared to what Jack made her feel the other night. It felt unusual, but she loved every moment of him touching her down below. "Um," Erin looked away before opening her mouth, "Lucy, can I ask you something? It is delicate." Lucy shrugged, "Sure." "Jack. He laid me down and used his tongue; on my quim." Erin said blushing. "Is this normal?" "Yeah," Lucy blurted out. "Sorry. Most guys do that now. If you're lucky." She smirked at Erin, who remained nonplussed. "Has sex really changed that much?" "One sec," Lucy stood up and skipped to the kitchen. She returned ten minutes later with a bottle of wine and two glasses. "If we're having girl time, we need wine." Lucy popped open the bottle and poured, then stopped. "Shit, I forgot. I'm sorry. Are you okay if I drink?" "Please," Erin replied, smiling. "My church said it was a sin. They encouraged to be teetotal. The man who I was supposed to marry died due to it. When I tasted wine and became hysteric. I thought that was the reason I was stuck in this house. Now I'm not sure. But I would love another taste." "Hopefully soon." Lucy then took a long sip and said, "Okay ;  sex. Sex is nothing like you have experienced in the 1800s. There are handjobs, blowjobs, anal, bondage, choking and group sex. What Jack did to you ;  I admit I'm jealous. Because most guys won't do that, but still expect you to blow them." "Blow?" "You put a penis in your mouth and suck on it." "Oh Christ," Erin muttered. Lucy then lifted up her phone, and loaded up a website. She then stopped herself, glanced at Erin and typed something else like she had changed her mind. She clicked on a video thumbnail and scooted closer to the spirit. "This is sex now." Erin moaned, watching a young blonde who looked a passing resemblance to Lucy, on a bed. She was nude and smiling at a tattooed man. She quickly stripped the man of his clothes, and then the couple kissed, rolling on the bed. Erin noticed that the woman was completely bare in the between. The man then kissed the woman in the cunt, just like Jack had done to her. "Wow," Erin moaned, "She looks like she is really enjoying herself." Erin felt the need to shift her weight on the sofa while she continued to watch. "Well, she's an actress. I should tell you that this is fake. But you need to know that it's okay to like sex and how you can enjoy it." Lucy then paused as they both watched the blonde actress get on her hands and knees. "That's the doggy-style position, very popular and feels great." Erin pursed her lip like she was trying not to laugh. Everything she had been taught, from her mother, Sunday School and the church, told her that premarital sex was an affront to the Lord. And sex in marriage was only for procreation. Now she could enjoy it. "I have to admit something, Lucy," Erin said, trying to look away from the video, "When me and Jack um fucked. I drew on your thoughts to make it more enjoyable." "I've been meaning to ask you about that." Lucy paused the video and took another sip of the wine. "Jack told me about the first time you possessed me and tried to kiss him." "I'm so sorry." "That's okay. I really just want to know how you were able to possess me? I've talked to spirits before, some probably fake, some hundred-percent real. But I've never been possessed." "I can't explain," Erin said. "It just happened and then I felt pain, you fighting back and mine own struggle. But I can tell you about the other time. It was easy. I just drew on your attraction to Jack." "It's like a tulpa," Lucy said, slowly smiling. "It has to be a tulpa!" "Tulpa?" "A tulpa is a being or an object created through intense thought. You have created something like this, linking you with Jack. When me and Jack were on the sofa, were you just haunting the house or were you drawn to this spot." "I just appeared here and saw you two." "Yeah," Lucy grinned, "This is great. I've got an idea on how we can help you." Erin nodded and looked away. She should apologize. Erin saw the blonde medium less of an adventuress, a strumpet who would seduce Jack, and more of a real person. And someone eager to help her. Erin knew she still had to adjust her 19th century way of thinking to the modern world. "Hey," Lucy said, getting Erin's attention. "Don't worry about me and Jack. I can tell he only wants you, especially now he can actually be with you. You know, have conversations. And I like you and I don't want to mess with a 19th century Irish ghost." Erin chuckled and covered her mouth. She wanted to believe that Lucy was genuine; she disliked being this jealous woman. When she was alive, with a body and everything, she had few friends. It was mainly due to her betrothed and the need to move cities for work. "What happened to you? When I possessed you?" "Hmm," Lucy paused and then said, "The first time I felt nothing, I was like asleep. When you did it again, it was like watching TV. I was standing in a dark room. Watching two screens and I could hear my voice, but it didn't sound like me. You leaned in and kissed Jack and it felt so weird. I'll be interested to try it again. Hell, if you ever want to have some fun with Jack, you can use my body." She grinned. Again, Erin blushed and went red, thinking about floating away from this conversation.   Left Hand Magic. Jack opened the door and made a beeline to the kitchen. He ignored the dulled sounds of music being played and talking in the other room, assuming that it was just the TV. After stocking the fridge, he had to check on Erin. It was a weird relationship. She was like his girlfriend but also his patient. Jack just tried to focus on Lucy coming through for them. Walking into the living room, he found Erin and Lucy both on the sofa. The blonde medium was playing music on her phone while Erin nodded her head over the beat, her eyes closed. This was good. Jack knew that Erin would need someone else to talk to. Like with any other relationship, his neurotic side flared, and Jack was worried that he was suffocating Erin. It helped that Lucy knew what Erin was going through, wouldn't freak out and is around the same age. "Oh, you're back," Erin said, smiling. She stood up and walked through the coffee table to be at his side. "Did you get everything?" "Yep," He nodded, "So, what have you guys been up to?" "I'm just showing her what music is like now, and Instagram. And some other things." Lucy said, smirking at Erin. Jack caught the smile and glanced at Erin, who had gone red. Ignoring their feminine secrets, he sat down and asked, "So, do you have any news?" "Yep," Lucy replied and went for her bag. "You ever heard of a grimoire?" They both shook their heads, which Lucy had suspected they would do. She then gave them a brief explanation of a grimoire. It meant a book of spells, but more accurately, it was a textbook of magic. She had underlined certain pages, focused more on left-hand path magic, which went over both Jack and Erin's heads. The grimoire that Lucy had been given, had instructions on how to resurrect a body. "From what I read, resurrecting the dead is near impossible. Especially when the dead has been dead for over a hundred years. You need to evocate the person's spirit from wherever they are, say Hell or Heaven. That takes a lot of energy, and like it takes forever with like a zero-point-one chance percent of getting it right. But since Erin's spirit is still on Earth, we have a shot." "Fuck." Jack said. He then glanced at Erin and quickly apologized. "No, you are right," Erin nodded, dumbfounded as he was, "So, I can be human?" "Possibly," Lucy said, walking closer to the couple, the dirt-brown book of spells in her hands. "We need some things. Dirt from your grave, for one. Some other stuff, like salt, candles, herbs. Also, there might be sex magic involved." "Sex magic?" Erin said, "How? What?" "This is left-hand path magic!" Lucy yelled, "There's always stuff involving sex." "So, when do we do this?" Jack asked, pouring himself a glass of wine; he needed it. Glancing at Erin, she looked like she wanted one as well. "We need to pick the right date. A date real important." Lucy then got in front of Erin and asked, "What do you remember about the day you died?" "I um; it's hard," Erin said, "I can't. No." "The diary doesn't say much. All I know that she died on December 21st." "December 21st?" Lucy repeated, "The Winter Solstice usually falls on 20th or 21st. If Erin was murdered on the Winter Solstice, it can explain a lot. Tulpas. Midwinter. This is getting weird." Lucy told him that she will explain later. But there was a plan, and all they had to do is get some materials, research more into Erin's life and wait a week. Jack remembered that the ritual would probably happen with his parents around, maybe his sisters. He needed another drink. Nudity Norms. Erin felt comfortable, sitting in the living room with Jack, watching a Christmas movie. It was a pleasant feeling. Jack was supposed to be working, but he told her that he was now in the holiday zone, so he was expected to do the bare minimum until the new year. When she asked what his boss would say, Jack replied that he's probably doing the same right now. If this was what the modern world truly is, then Erin knew she would love it. She glanced at Jack, and he smirked back at her. Last night was still replaying her head. They were in bed, and had finished watching another Christmas movie. Some of the jokes Erin didn't get, also the ending was confusing. Frozen orange juice and future markets. Overall, she enjoyed the movie but was curious about the amount of nudity in some shows, and asked if that was normal. "Depends on the time and what you are watching," Jack said, "When you see actors and actresses naked, sometimes its just as is, like they're waking up or taking a shower. Over times, it's sexual and they might even pretend to have sex." "You mean fucking?" Erin grinned. "What?" Erin explained that she picked up some modern words. Jack immediately guessed it had to be Lucy. There was literally no one else. "I have only had sex twice in my life. Well, once when I was alive," Erin smiled, "What happened with us was unexpected and I had to tell someone. And she taught me some new words." Erin then moved closer and shocked him, "Lucy even showed me videos. Porn." Jack stayed still, not believing what he had heard. He had tried to work out how and why Lucy showed Erin porn. For the last couple of days, he had tried to be protective of her nineteenth-century mind, slowly exposing herself to the modern world. He looked at her, seeing if she was embarrassed. He couldn't tell. No, she looked more curious. He had to ask Erin what she was shown, intrigued at what she thought. Erin then described the scenes in vivid detail, telling the actions of the porn actors, her own emotions and what Lucy said. A man and woman slowly undressed, she was eaten out, then she gave the man a blowjob and then they had sex. Pretty vanilla. "Can I ask you something? Were you watching porn that night?" Erin then asked. That night. It felt so long ago to Jack; his life had changed so much. He told her yes, and wasn't surprised when Erin asked what type of porn. Lucy had really provided her some tutoring as Erin began rattling off porn genres. "Do you want to see what I watched?" Erin blushed but nodded her head. Jack set his laptop on the bed, directly in between them. He told her what he usually liked, amateur, lesbian and Point of view. Looking at Erin, her face was red, but she had this eager look on her, still curious. He played some videos, letting her watch for a while before asking her opinion. "It's. It's something," she said, sounding breathless. Erin watched each video carefully, amazed. One was through a man's eyes, bedding a young woman with many tattoos, which confused her as tattoos only belong to wealthy males during her time. Her eyes would drift to the right side of the page, suggested scenes. The words they used shocked her, anal, stepmom and orgy. Jack then played another movie; this time, it was two women. Erin had this initial disgust, but it slowly disappeared as the women sensually writhed together. It quickly got too much for her. She turned to face Jack, seeing a large bulge in his pants. She didn't know why, but Erin asked if Jack needed to sort himself. She insisted. He nervously pulled out his penis; her eyes flared at the sight of it, hard and veiny. With his dominant hand, Jack then slowly stroked his shaft. Erin quickly became entranced by the action, wishing that she could touch his cock again. But she became distracted, heat from her groin rippled up to her brain; Erin wanted to touch herself. Her eyes glued on him, she hitched up her skirt and slid her hand underneath her bloomers. Both Jack and Erin forgot about the Female-female-male scene that was playing and just stared at each other. Jack's hand became a blur over his cock, while Erin had slid two fingers deep into her pussy. There was little resistance from her Catholic upbringing; all those years she had been told that self-pleasure was a mortal sin were forgotten. Jack then cried out her name as ropes of cum shot out his cockhead. He grabbed a tissue and quickly caught the other spurts. Erin came immediately after him, also crying his name. There was no awkwardness between them as they settled in bed, watching each other as their breathing went back to normal. Jack then said something that made Erin's heart thud, saying that he wished that he could kiss her. She didn't want to think about that as they watched TV. She was still this spirit, telling herself that this could be her life until the Last Judgement. Still, Erin couldn't believe that she would ever try something like that with a man. Glancing at him, he was more handsome than her previous men. It was no contest with Patrick, her forty-something betrothed. With rotten teeth and shaking hands, Erin had hated the thought of touching him. Jack was more like Robert. Not physically, Jack was taller but didn't have Robert's square jaw and his lighter brown hair. Since seeing his naked body during the s ance, Erin noticed that Jack was more athletic than her previous lover. But Jack had Robert's charming and intelligent personality. He was also honest and aware of his limitations, unlike Robert. Whenever they were away from the Franklins, Erin would see him turn into an almighty braggart after a drink. They heard the front door opened then quickly closed. Lucy Prepares for a Resurrection. "Erin? Jack?" Lucy yelled. "In here," Jack said back. She was carrying a big tote bag as she walked into the living room. "Hey guys," Lucy smiled, "You okay?" Both Jack and Erin shrugged and then nodded their heads, saying fine at the same time. "What are you guys watching?" Lucy asked, facing the TV. "I don't know," Erin then turned to Jack and asked, "Which movie is this one?" "It's the Mistletoe Connection." "I've been watching a number of these Hallmark Christmas movies." Erin said, then shrugged her shoulders. "I do enjoy them, but I am finding a pattern. Struggling family business, a woman from the big city, a father with a young child and a lack of minorities?" She glanced at Jack to see if she was correct. He smiled and nodded. "We've been watching Christmas movies non-stop. If this ritual goes like it should, then Erin's going to be out in the world with no pop culture reference point. We watched Gremlins earlier and I figured that she needs a palate cleanser." "I was streaked," Erin said, looking back at Lucy. "She means scared." "For once, I was glad that I am a spirit. Those monsters would have made me cascade if I had a body." "She means puke." Jack then turned to Erin, and they exchanged grins. "You need to switch to Netflix Christmas movies. There's more variety." Lucy said. She took a seat and pulled the grimoire. "I need to ask you some questions, Erin. I want to make sure that we can get everything right for the ritual. Also, I can't find where you were buried." "Of course." "Why don't you guys take the living room. I probably should do some work today." Jack said, standing up. "Do you want some coffee, Lucy?" Lucy said yes, and they quickly settled around the coffee table. She booted up her laptop and asked Erin about her past, trying to squeeze information out of her last days alive. Erin gave vague answers back to her. She had been asked about this before, she hated thinking back. "What's going on?" Lucy asked, lowering her notepad. "What do you mean?" "You keep looking away and you're repeating yourself. What's going on?" "It's just," Erin said, but then stopped. "Lucy, I just need to tell someone about what had happened." Erin then leaned in, wanting to make sure that there was no way Jack could eavesdrop on them. Erin then told her how she and Jack watched porn, first describing the videos she saw. She caught Lucy's eyes widen as she went on. Erin then did a long exhale and told her that the evening ended with her and Jack mutually masturbating. Just like a move from a sitcom, Lucy did a spit take. Wiping her mouth, she turned back to Erin and said, "Sorry. But that's really hot. I didn't know that you can do that." "Nor did I," Erin replied, "I just can't control myself around him. I want to feel him again. To kiss him." "Just kiss?" Erin blushed and dropped her head. "I do have some other carnal thoughts." "Let's see what happens tomorrow. If I'm reading this thing right. You might get to have some fun tomorrow." "If only," Erin said. "So, you going to do it again?" Lucy asked grinning. Erin said nothing, trying not to laugh. "Hey, I'm a pervert," Lucy said, shrugging her shoulders. They went back to their research. Finding Erin's burial was difficult. Her death certificate was nonexistent. Either the hundred years that passed since her death made it impossible to find, or it was another insult by the Franklins. "O, space, then C-E-A-L-L-A-C-H-A-I-N," Erin said, spelling out her last name. "I'm not going to pretend to try to pronounce that." Lucy typed in the search bar and then asked, "I thought your last name is O'Callaghan?" "It is. That's just the Irish spelling. Jack said that if we are successful, I'll need identity papers. I may shorten it to Callaghan." Erin shrugged and looked away. With that done, Erin helped Lucy find her grave. She learnt that the Franklins had her buried in a Potter's field-like cemetery in a town near the border with New Hampshire. She also told Lucy more about her life, traveling across the Atlantic from Ireland, Boston and being forced to move to Portland due to Patrick. They were in deep concentration, but quickly looked up, hearing a car door slam shut. Then some voices that sounded like there were coming from outside.   Parents Pop In. The front door opened, and a deep-sounding voice yelled, "Jack?" Jack jumped out of his chair; he was already prepared. He had been going over this moment since morning. He had to distract his parents while Lucy and, more importantly, Erin had to exit without drawing too much attention. His mom will probably faint if she saw Erin phase through walls, his dad would definitely spend an hour asking Erin to do tricks. He met them by the door and quickly lobbed questions at them. While his dad went upstairs to use the bathroom, Jack marshaled his mom into the kitchen. He showed her what he had bought for Christmas dinner, and asked about other things that they might need. In the living room, Lucy frantically piled her notes, her laptop and the grimoire back in her bag. She bounced from different spots of the room, trying to tidy up without being caught. Erin followed her around the room, not knowing what else to do. "Shit. Shit. Shit." Lucy said out loud but to herself. "Please be calm," Erin said, resting a hand on Lucy's shoulder though both could feel nothing. "We can say that we border together. But that we have to go now." "That's not a bad idea." Lucy replied. She paused and stared at Erin's clothes. "Can you do yourself up. Like how you used to look." Erin had her sleeves pulled up to her elbows, her hair down and her shoes were under Jack's bed. It was this weird quirk that she could change her appearance briefly, but it would just reset itself to how she always looked. Sometimes it was random, or if she just thought strongly enough. She nodded her head, and then Erin pressed her chest like she was doing the pledge of allegiance. With a quick flash, every bit of her clothing and her hair was back in its place. "Let's go," she said. While Jack was distracting his mother, they walked to the door, both looking at the kitchen. As Lucy opened the door, she waved at Erin and pointed to her mouth. Erin got the hint and said, "Bye Jack. We have to go." "Thanks for your help," Lucy added. They watched as a woman in her late fifties walked out of the kitchen. She was then joined by Jack. He looked like he was biting his lower lip. "Well, hello," she said. Her face had this inquisitive look like she was quickly judging them. "Hello, I am Erin," she said, "This is Miss; umm Lucy." "Hi, I'm Mary. Jack's mom," she replied, "That's umm interesting dress that you are wearing." Erin stayed quiet, her face frozen and her eyes stretched wide. "Oh, Erin's just shy," Lucy said, "She came from a rehearsal." She then turned to Erin and asked, "You're playing Scrooge's maid, right?" "Yes," Erin replied, not sounding anywhere convincing. "I'm sorry, but we need to be leaving." Jack left his mom's side and walked to the door, blocking her view of Erin just in case. "See you guys later," he said loud enough for his mom to hear him. He then leaned in and whispered, "Hide in my room, I'll be up soon." Both Lucy and Erin nodded. Jack slowly closed the door, watching Erin fade away as soon as she stepped outside. Lucy twisted her head left to right; he guessed that she was checking if anyone noticed a nineteenth-century maid disappear. Jack then locked the door and turned around, seeing his mother giving him a sly look. She suspected something. She was going to ask him so many questions, he knew it.   Inconvenient Parents. Erin stared out of the window, bored. She realized that she had never really checked out the change in her surroundings. That was interesting for a while, but after two hours, she needed something else to do. Erin had tried to see if she could focus all her energy and press the TV remote power button but got nowhere. She attempted not to think about the ceremony tomorrow. Thoughts of her future, of Jack and life would occasionally creep in her head, and Erin had to ignore them. She trusted herself, knowing that if it went wrong and she would stay like this, that she could survive. But what about Jack? There was a knock and Erin turned her head. "Erin?" Jack said before opening the door and poking his head in. "Jack?" "Sorry, I had to leave you alone for so long. Mom and Dad really wanted to know what I've been up to." Jack then climbed onto his bed and switched the TV on. He flipped through the channels before settling on ESPN. He looked at the door as he played around with the volume. "I understand." Erin then joined him on the bed. "Oh yeah. Mom really likes the tree. I told her that you helped me decorate it." "Were they upset that I didn't fully introduce myself to them?" "No. Not really. But over dinner, Mom wanted to know about you. I had to think of something to say. I told them that I met you recently and we've been seeing each other. Also, you're crashing at Lucy's." "Seeing each other?" Erin replied, "Is that what modern courtship is?" "Something like that," Jack said, smiling, "What was courtship like in 1800s?" "Courtship was not for people like me. Especially for someone from Ireland. My Dad worked with a man and the fellow said he was looking for a wife. My Dad then brought him home one night, I may have said five words to Patrick during dinner. Two weeks later, we were engaged." "Whoa. Is that what you wanted?" "I never had a say. My parents said I was to be married and that was it." "What did you think about Patrick?" "A drunk," Erin said, rolling her eyes. "I could tell the type of husband he was going to be during that dinner. I was to be a nurse for him, bring him whiskey, wash him and clean off umm vomit from his mouth." She blushed again, still not comfortable with some modern words. "But when he died. How old were you? Couldn't you marry someone else?" "I was 25. A different time. One that I am so happy to be out of." Erin smiled. "There is something I want to ask. Is courtship similar to dating?" "Dating?" "I've heard that word spoken so many times in this house. Back when I was alive, dating meant buying a night with a whore." Jack tried to explain what dating meant now. The use of apps, having coffee dates or low-key ones like going shopping. Also, casual sex and friends-with-benefits. The dating stages, how couples usually go from casual acquaintances to dating, boyfriend and girlfriend, moving into together and finally getting married if they like. He saw Erin's shocked look when he explained that divorce was so common and accepted. Jack carried on, saying how some couples don't use labels to describe themselves; some do while others have their own thing. Embarrassed, but Jack had no choice to use experience from his own life. "We have had sex." Erin said, slowly smiling, "I guess we're more boyfriend and girlfriend." "Probably." Jack replied, smirking at her. Jack's phone then started buzzing and interrupted them. Reaching to the nightstand, Lucy was calling him on Facetime. He turned to Erin and said, "Lucy's video-calling me." "Video-calling? So, she can see us? Wow." Jack answered and said, "Hey Lucy, what's up? Where are you?" They could see Lucy in a dimly lit storeroom. There were boxes of Budweiser beer and whiskey stacked behind her. Her clothes also looked weird for her, wearing a white shirt and a black leather apron. There was no make-up on her face, and her hair was tied back. "I got a shift at the Cord & Rifle. Anyway, how you guys doing?" Erin looked at Jack, he shrugged, and she turned back to Lucy saying, "We're good." "What happened to your mom & dad?" "They had some questions. I told them that I've been seeing Erin for a while and you guys came over, so I can help you with your laptop." "And. I am uh, crashing; at your home," Erin said, emphasizing any modern words. "Cool, cool." Lucy looked passed her phone, then there was a knock and a muffled voice. She nodded and said, "They need me back behind the bar. There was also one thing. Tomorrow, it's just us and your parents, right? Like your sisters aren't going to burst in while we're burning sage or nude?" "Nude?" Erin looked at Jack, squinting her eyes. He shook his head and turned back to Lucy, "No. You don't have to worry about them. Katie and Beth will be flying out on 23rd. They got tickets to Taylor Swift tomorrow. Unless LA gets a plague of spiders, they are going to be there." "Okay then," Lucy nodded, "So, we need to drug your parents," she said, so casual. She then looked away, mouthing 'what' at someone. "Shit, I need to go." "What do you mean, drug my parents?" "Yeah, we need to drug them." Lucy stood up and looked like she was moving. "Why?" "They have to be drugged," Lucy replied, "Bye guys!" Jack glanced at Erin, then back to his blank phone screen. Tomorrow is going to be a long, stressful day. *** In a couple of hours, the Winter Solstice would happen, and Erin sat on Jack's bed. She watched him paced in the room, on the phone with one of his sisters. He said that he was helping her out with a computer problem, but as he talked to his sister, Erin only heard half of the conversation and it made no sense to her. She never really interacted with anyone else in the house. Before Jack and his family moved in, Erin tried to keep to herself, always in the corner of the eye of the house's occupants for a quick second, then disappearing. She didn't even want to be seen by Jack initially but had no choice as her attic became his bedroom. Few times, she would find herself in his sisters' rooms and would see them. Erin struggled to remember their names. What was she supposed to say whenever she meets them? Erin clenched her eye shut, hating herself. It was wrong to think about the future. There were so many things that could go wrong. Jack ended the called and turned to Erin, "I hate being the family's I T support," he said, rolling his eyes. "I T?" "Never mind." He settled on the bed next to her and slipped on his boots. "It'll be weird when I introduce you to them. Katie will be anywhere from cool to disinterested. I know for a fact that Beth will be asking you non-stop questions. She's a pain like that." Erin smiled and said, "You're being too confident. It might not happen. And if this ritual fails, I will accept it with grace." "Really?" "I need to. Just so I can stay sane." "I've got a text from Lucy. She's outside." Jack stood up and grabbed his jacket. "I have faith something will happen. Something good," he said, smiling back at her. "It's like a 40-minute drive to the cemetery. We will be a while. Try to stay here until me or Lucy come up." "Good luck," Erin replied. It was getting too much for her. Erin knew how she was feeling over him. She loved Jack. It terrified her. If the ritual fails, what would happen to Jack, Erin asked herself. He had this single-minded focus on helping her. She was worried that if it doesn't work, he won't be able to move on.   Lucy pulled her Ford over and cut the engine. Jack wasn't going to say anything to her, but her car should not be making those types of sounds. It was like a Transformer was having a heart attack. Looking out of the window, he didn't see anyone. They left the car and slowly walk to the wall; it looked low enough for them to climb. Jack didn't know if there was some kind of night guard but said to Lucy that they should sneak in, just in case. She agreed, and soon he was boosting her over the wall. Climbing over, Jack landed on frozen grass that crunch with every step. They were lucky with the wind howling, making enough noise to cover their movements. "You ever been in a cemetery before?" Lucy asked, flashing the torch at a gravestone. "No. Have you?" "Yeah," she replied, "Loads of times; its part of the job. When I started hearing voices of the dead, I was like a goth goddess. Every Friday, someone was dragging me to a cemetery or a graveyard. Guys would hit on me all the time. I gave my first handy at a grave." "I got my first one during a school trip to Bangor," he said, looking at a gravestone, "I'm pretty sure that I told Erin about it." "How's Erin handling it?" Lucy asked, "Is she freaking out being a real woman again?" "Not really." Lucy stopped and Jack did the same. "Have you guys said anything about the future?" Jack sighed and shook his head. "Where's she going to stay? You're going back to Boston; is she going to follow you or stay here? She will need help with ID and social security." "I know. But Erin just doesn't want to think about the future. Talking about Boston, what she wants to do with her life and everything else, it will fucking hurt if tomorrow she's still a ghost. She's protecting herself." Lucy nodded and said, "I understand." Jack looked around, feeling that they were lost. Realizing that there was no guard and they were definitely alone, Jack and Lucy walked to the entrance. From there, they methodically worked their way up, finding Erin's grave after thirty minutes of searching. Lucy bent down and jammed a trowel into the ground. The frozen soil being too hard for her and Jack quickly took over. It took a couple of jabs to loosen the dirt. He scooped it up and funneled it into a sterilized container. Jack did ask why the box had to be sterilized. "You ever seen the Fly?" Lucy replied, tightening the lid around the plastic box, "You don't want her DNA mixing with something else. Turning her into a hybrid." "Really?" "Nah. It's just what it says to do in the grimoire," Lucy grinned, "Okay's let's get the hell out of here and roofie your parents." The Resurrection at Solstice. Jack searched the pantry for marshmallows, knowing that they were there somewhere. Lucy was upstairs with Erin. She was surprisingly easy to sneak into the house without his mom and dad noticing. While she was keeping Erin company, Jack was making his parents cocoa. Lucy had given him some weird smelling liquid to mix into the cocoa. It should make them fall asleep. He had to hide his look of glee when his dad said yes when he asked. If he didn't, they would be in trouble. He handed them the cocoa and settled down on the sofa, away from his parents. They were watching some Holiday cake show, and Jack would occasionally look up from his phone; they were still awake but getting quiet. Five minutes, he caught his mom closing her eyes and his dad doing that move of falling asleep, then jolting back awake. Ten minutes later, they were both deep asleep. He knew that they would be pissed at him in the morning, letting them sleep all night on the sofa. Waiting another ten minutes, Jack checked that they were still asleep and texted Lucy. It took just seconds for Erin to suddenly appear in his living room and the sound of Lucy running down the stairs. Both also checked if his parents were out cold; he guessed that they were also scared of being interrupted. "What did you give them?" Jack asked, staring at his snoring parents. "Oh, Valerian root and CBD oil," Lucy said, "We should get ready." "How long do we have?" Erin asked. "We got time," Lucy replied, looking at her phone. "The solstice is at 12:34am. This ritual has to happen during that time." "So, what do we have to do?" Jack said. They went back into Jack's room. Just like the s ance, they had to use the bedroom to host the ritual. Jack pushed everything to one side again, leaving a large empty space. Lucy made another circle, this time out of salt. There was something wrong with this; Jack had seen horror movies that use rings of salt as protection from the Devil. He wanted to ask if they're technically practicing Satanism. "This is just to make sure that we contain any kind of magic that we've created," Lucy said. After the circle was done, Jack placed seven black candles around the ring. They smelt funny, like someone could get high from the fumes. Lucy then put the grave dirt in the circle, making a pile with her hands. Directly opposite the soil, she positioned the silver bucket they had used before. While they worked on the preparations, Erin stood next to the door, silently watching them. Once Lucy said they were ready, they headed downstairs and to the kitchen. There was still some time to go, at least forty minutes. They could have waited in Jack's room, but both he and Lucy were too scared to touch anything and ruin the ritual. With Jack's parents snoring in the living room, they settled around the kitchen table. "Do you want something to drink?" Jack asked, breaking the silence between them. "Oh, god yes." Jack reached into a cabinet and pulled out a bottle of whiskey. "Dad got a bottle of Maker's Mark from my uncle," he said, pouring glasses for him and Lucy. They both quickly finished the bourbon and refilled their glasses. But Jack paused before taking another sip. He looked up from his drink to Erin and said, "Sorry about this." "Me too," Lucy said, hesitating as well. "But, if this works. I'm going to take you to a bar and we'll get hammered." Erin looked away and chuckled to herself. "Today, is it really that special? The Winter Solstice." "Yeah," Lucy said, "There's so many things that happen today. Yule is celebrated today by pagans and Satanists. Then there's the whole life-death-reborn symbolism of it, being the shortest day." She took another sip of bourbon and asked, "If this ritual works or doesn't, you're still going to experience a modern Christmas. How was that like back in 1890s?" Erin let out a quick smile and shrugged her shoulders. She said, "It was the same. There was Father Christmas ;  Santa, Christmas trees and presents. When I was alive, I'd go to church number of times before Christmas. My mam and my nana would give me presents on 6th December. How about you two? What are your traditions?" "Mine are really boring," Jack said, "Typical Christmas. Exchange gifts, eat too much, drink too much. But it's the only time my sisters do all of the cooking. Like Christmas dinner is their time to shine. Later in the evening, we go to the movies. Lucy?" "Pass," she said, "With this talking to dead people, I never really celebrated Christmas. Normally out getting drunk with friends or strangers." Lucy then checked her phone and then said, "We should probably stop drinking. It's getting near midnight and I probably shouldn't be swaying when I start reading the grimoire. And if you drink too much, it might affect your plumbing. And we need a good, sexy, show." Jack rolled his eyes and stood up. He said, "I don't know anything about sex magic and what it does. But I really think you just want to watch us fuck." Erin stood next to him, blushing uncontrollably. She covered her face and looked away. "Maybe," Lucy grinned, "You guys go to your room and I'm gonna get changed and we'll start." Jack and Erin were in his bedroom, standing inside the circle. They stayed quiet, not even keeping eye contact with each other. Jack would open his mouth from time to time and try to say something, probably some reassuring words to Erin. He had none, though; so he kept his mouth shut and waited. His bedroom door swung open, and in walked Lucy. She had changed, replacing her jeans and sweatshirt with an ankle-length black dress. It had long sleeves and fit snugly around her curves. She also pulled her long blonde hair in a ponytail, wearing black lipstick and eye shadow. She could see them staring at her and said, "I'm trying to match what they were usually wear for this kind of thing." "So, should we get started?" Jack asked. "Yeah. You start lighting the candles. I'm going to start the fire and burn the sage." It was just like as Jack thought, the weird-smelling candles that he placed around the circle started exhaling a strange odor. It smelt like weed, but some cheap, disgusting weed. After that was done, he joined Erin back in the circle. Smoke from the sage filled the room, but it wasn't overpowering like the night of the s ance. Lucy held the grimoire tightly and rounded the circle, standing in front of the dirt. "I'm going to start reading the grimoire. When you can, start kissing and do you-know-what." "Are you okay?" Jack asked as he stood in front of Erin. "Yeah. I'm calm." Jack dropped his eyes to her hands. She was trembling. "Okay guys, let's get weird," Lucy said before she began reading. "Our good being. Bear this night lights open this fruit female. Set the Cork grass light. Her fruit diminished. Days gathering seasons said air together for every day lost. Given her wherein dry replenish. Light her subdued wings." Lucy lowered her head, facing Jack and Erin. They both looked puzzled. Lucy rolled her eyes and said, "Just, kiss now!" Jack tried to take Erin's hand, but his fingers went through hers. She widened her eyes, scared at what was not happening. She was still non-corporeal. Something had gone wrong, and they could be out of time. "Fuck. Fuck. Fuck." Lucy said to herself, frantically flipping through the grimoire. Jack kept eye contact with Erin and asked, "Lucy, can't we do this another day?" "No. Today is the day Erin died and it falls on the Winter Solstice. We might have to wait another year or two for the right time to occur, again." "If we wait," he said, still looking at a scared Erin, "There is no way Erin could go unnoticed by my parents. Even if I stay here." Lucy jumped into the circle and stood in front of Erin. "You have to possess me." "What?" Erin said, nearly yelling, "Why

Ambassador Hussein Haqqani and Bill Roggio discuss global terror outbreaks, including ISIS-linked attacks in Australia and Afghanistan. Haqqani argues the West prematurely declared victory, ignoring radical ideologies. He notes Pakistan's internal power struggles and failure to track jihadists, warning the region remains a launchpad for international terrorism. 1867

Edmund Fitton-Brown warns that the West's premature "retirement" of counterterrorism efforts has allowed threats to incubate in conflict zones like Afghanistan. He argues that ignoring these regions inevitably leads to attacks in the West, as terrorists seek attention by striking "peaceful" environments, necessitating renewed forward engagement. 1910

Precision spindles featuring machine-like lathe markings, 3D intricate carvings, depictions of ice age mammals, the largest cut barays on earth, inverted clamp crevices, giant precision lingas, and huge megalithic blocks featuring 90 degree angles, interlocking nubs and drill holes - why does mainstream archaeology ignore the evidence that lost ancient technology was used to engineer Angkor Wat and the many other incredible temples and structures in and around Cambodia's Siem Reap area? Back from our recent Cambodia expedition, I sit down with Cassie Coppersmith (explorer, researcher and host of the 'Secrets in Stone' podcast) to discuss the many mind-blowing anomalies that we witnessed. We provide the receipts in 4k videoFOLLOW CASSIE HERE JOIN ME ON A TOUR

In this episode, Coach Doralee sits down with Dallisa Hocking to talk about trusting yourself again and reconnecting to your inner knowing. She is a 5th generation psychic, who's expertise spans psychic development, mediumship, astrology, and tarot, blending spiritual insight with real-world coaching to help people navigate life's most pivotal moments.She breaks down why every woman is intuitive, how we dim our light to stay accepted, and how self-doubt becomes a learned survival pattern. This conversation blends emotional healing, nervous system awareness, and spiritual intuition in a grounded, real-life way. If you're ready to stop performing, stop second-guessing, and start listening to yourself, this episode is for you.

In this episode, Coach Doralee sits down with Dallisa Hocking to talk about trusting yourself again and reconnecting to your inner knowing. She is a 5th generation psychic, who's expertise spans psychic development, mediumship, astrology, and tarot, blending spiritual insight with real-world coaching to help people navigate life's most pivotal moments.She breaks down why every woman is intuitive, how we dim our light to stay accepted, and how self-doubt becomes a learned survival pattern. This conversation blends emotional healing, nervous system awareness, and spiritual intuition in a grounded, real-life way. If you're ready to stop performing, stop second-guessing, and start listening to yourself, this episode is for you.

In this solo episode, Nole dives deep into the tension between the cultural push for men to be extraordinary and the profound value of simply embracing the ordinary—or the mundane—in daily life.Inspired by a simple observation about a frantic lemur at an animal park ("He leads a simple life"), Nole explores the idea that while high-achieving goals (like a podcast, an adventure race, or a career milestone) are important, they occupy only a tiny fraction of our time. The bulk of our lives is spent on the ordinary, often overlooked tasks.Using the concept of the Time Wheel (a pie chart of your daily hours), Nole argues that if your stated priorities don't align with where you actually spend your time, you may be missing the most important opportunities for growth and fulfillment. He challenges men to approach the mundane—from laundry and cooking to exercise and even brushing teeth—with excellence and gratitude.This focus on doing the small things well is presented as a form of discipline that "bleeds" into the rest of life, strengthening relationships and fueling the pursuit of bigger goals. Ultimately, it's about finding the balance to ensure that the pursuit of excellence doesn't turn us into slaves of busyness, robbing us of time for peace, reflection, and truly appreciating life.Big thank you to My Epic and Facedown Records for the use of their song "Hail" in our podcast!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dz2RZThURTU&ab_channel=FacedownRecordsVideo referenced in this episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mY3UJLmXAUQSign up for a class at The Fire Up Program!https://www.fireupprogram.com/programsThe Fire Up Progam video.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I__ErPW46Ec&t=12s&ab_channel=FireUpProgramThe Fire You Carry Instagram.https://www.instagram.com/thefireyoucarry/Donate to The Fire Up Program.https://www.fireupprogram.com/donateThe Fire Up Program Instagram.https://www.instagram.com/fireup_program/Kevin's Instagram.https://www.instagram.com/kevinpwelsh/?hl=enMyZone facility code for The Fire You Carry: CALIFUS001Get $60 off a MZ-Switch Heart Rate Monitor!https://buy.myzone.org/?lang=enUS&voucher=CALIFUS001-60

In this episode of the Smart Wealth & Retirement Podcast, financial advisors and retirement planners Jim Martin & Casey Bibb of Martin Wealth Solutions break down some of the most common — and costly — mistakes people make leading up to and during retirement. From emotional investing and improper risk management to underestimating taxes, Social Security timing, and overspending early in retirement, Jim and Casey explain why these issues show up so often… and what you can do to stay clear of them. They share real-world client experiences, discuss the habits that lead to long-term success, and offer practical steps to help retirees and pre-retirees avoid unnecessary stress, poor decisions, and financial regret. http://retirewithmartin.com/ ← Learn about working with us www.planwellretirehappy.com Episode Breakdown 00:00 – Introduction: Why retirement mistakes happen 03:05 – Mistake #1: Overspending early in retirement 06:14 – Mistake #2: Not having a written plan 08:10 – Mistake #3: Not investing your age 10:34 – Mistake #4: Working longer than you really needed to 13:29 – Mistake #5: Ignoring taxes until it's too late 14:23 – Mistake #6: Delaying big decisions 16:50 – Mistake #7: Not reaching out to our team  17:40 – Q&A with Casey 20:45 – Key takeaways & closing thoughts Disclaimer Opinions expressed herein are solely those of Martin Wealth Solutions, unless otherwise specifically cited. Material presented is believed to be from reliable sources, but no representations are made by our firm as to another parties' informational accuracy or completeness. Content provided herein is for informational purposes only and should not be used or construed as investment advice or a recommendation regarding the purchase or sale of any security. There is no guarantee that any statements, opinions or forecasts provided herein will prove to be correct. All information or ideas provided should be discussed in detail with an advisor, accountant or legal counsel prior to implementation. Past performance may not be indicative of future results. Indices are not available for direct investment. Any investor who attempts to mimic the performance of an index would incur fees and expenses which would reduce returns. Securities investing involves risk, including the potential for loss of principal. There is no assurance that any investment plan or strategy will be successful.

Missing from official comments and press reporting about the murder this weekend of three Americans in Syria and sixteen Jewish Australians on a Sydney beach is the word “jihad.” That failure is deliberate – a symptom of, and a contributor to, a metastasizing danger. Fifteen years ago, our group called “Team B II” published a book entitled, Sharia: The Threat to America. It challenged the policy that prevailed then – and continues to operate today, namely, ignoring acts of violence clearly animated by that totalitarian Islamic doctrine, depicting them instead as random incidents of “terrorism” or “extremism.” Today, sharia-supremacists tied to or inspired by the Muslim Brotherhood are poised to engage in much more jihadist violence, both elsewhere and here, and on a far greater scale.  Warnings like Team B's must no longer be ignored. Join us in saying so at BantheBrotherhood.org. This is Frank Gaffney.

Lords: * Linker * Alexa Topics: * Variations in vampire stories: types of powers, origins of vampires, lack of consent lol * Anthropomorphism/Connection in media * Get a free burger when you join my rewards * Meditation at Lagunitas by Robert Hass * https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/47553/meditation-at-lagunitas * What letter of the alphabet would win in a Royal Rumble * Anti-Lesbian Vampire Propaganda of the 1970s as shown in The Vampire Lovers (1970) * https://crossingsjournal.ca/index.php/crossings/article/view/283 Microtopics: * Being American and then being Canadian-American. * Elephantasy and Elephantasy Flipside. * Crazy Aaron's Thinking Putty. * 3D-printed worms. * A plastic casing attached to your keychain that used to have a clicky button on it. * What we did to fidget after the industrialization of textiles. * How office workers goofed off before the Internet. * Bella's lead skull that prevents Edward from mind-controlling her. * Making up a power to be your favorite vampire power. * What happens when you inhale a vampire in mist form. * Using a picture of Cat's Cradle to illustrate the concept of telekinesis. * Putting the vampire coffin in steerage and the familiar has to sit in coach and then pull the coffin off of the luggage conveyor belt. * Would it be fun to turn into mist and be collected in a cup and then drunk? * Miss Frizzle, vampire expert. * Getting frustrated at a stealth video game and giving up being a pacifist as a metaphor for being an old vampire. * New Money vs. Old Money vampires. * Vampires going on Fetlife to find ethically sourced food. * One mysterious vampire at Goth night at the nightclub quietly asking to drink your blood, vs. twenty vampires going around begging and everyone's like jeez, this again? * Nobody expecting you to embezzle the blood. * Talking to a computer like it's a person you have absolutely no respect for, in a way you'd never talk to a real person because you assign a baseline respect for just being a real person, and people overhearing you are like "holy shit they're really mad" but you're not mad, you're just talking to a computer. * Apologizing to the table you just ran into. * It Takes Two. * Following the instructions of the book of love. * Creation of personality in moments of friction. * Interacting with video games in similar ways as you would a person, expect without the social anxiety. * Why would you ruin this perfectly good complex system with social anxiety? * We've got teamwork at home. * Sentient burgers enslaving other sentient burgers. * Being rewarded with a free burger but then turning into a burger and being given away as a reward. * Chicken stars! They're like chicken nuggets but they're shaped like stars! * Where were you when you were drafted into the Rewards Wars? * Naming your rewards program "My Rewards" so when the mascot refers to it it sounds like the rewards belong to the mascot. * Demanding to see the terms and conditions before you eat this hamburger. * A word that is elegy to what it signifies. * Moments when the body is as numinous as words. * Taking some LSD and learning about non-symbolic states. * Ignoring poetry in the same way that you ignore ads. * Vampire jokes! * Transylvanian Hounds. * Serif H being much more combat-ready than sans serif H. * The most bouba letters. * Capital O rolling around crushing the other letters of the alphabet like in Raiders of the Lost Ark. * Distraction the ref so you can stab. * Which letter of the alphabet could do the best backflip. * Whether the ampersand counts as a letter. * Letters that are good at stabbing vs. letters with broad sturdy bases. * The nuclear family emerging in response to the financial boom following World War II. * Anti-lesbian propaganda films that are far too sexy to be effective. * Heteronormative fiances. * Carmella the lesbian vampire stealing your wife. * The vampire lesbians receiving their comeuppance and the heteronormative couple living happily every after. * Be gay do crimes. (Murder.) * Buying Linker's games so he doesn't die.

Most founders don't realize how much their work is reshaping who they are. Until it's too late.In this episode of Founder Talk, Nick Greco, mental health expert, crisis intervention instructor, and founder of C3 Education & Research, breaks down what chronic stress really does to people who live in it day after day. Nick has trained thousands of officers across the U.S., taught suicide prevention globally, and even worked with other national police forces in different countries. Few people understand high-pressure psychology like he does and the crossover to entrepreneurship is undeniable. Nick explains why people in these high-stakes, high-pressure positions lose their identity, shut down emotionally, and drift from the people they care about. He shares why communication at home often collapses, why “I'm fine” usually isn't true, and how simple habits like taking 20–30 minutes to decompress can save marriages and families. We also dive into why men struggle to ask for help, why emotional isolation is so dangerous, and how founders can actually retain people instead of losing them to fatigue, resentment, or culture issues. Nick also unpacks the psychology behind overworking, financial stress, identity fusion (“I am my job”), and why so many founders unknowingly mirror the same patterns he sees in first responders.What You'll Learn✅ Why chronic stress leads to burnout, isolation, and identity loss✅ How emotional shutdown damages relationships and how to reverse it✅ Why “burnout” is usually a system problem, not a personal weakness✅ How to decompress and reset after high-pressure days✅ Why founders and first responders fall into the same psychological trapsIf you're a founder navigating nonstop pressure, this episode gives you the clarity, tools, and mindset to stay grounded, connected, and healthy without losing yourself to the work.Connect with Nicholas GrecoGuest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-greco-iv-m-s-bcets-catsm-faaets-ba78168/Guest Website: https://www.c3educationandresearch.com/If you are a B2B company that wants to build your own in-house content team instead of outsourcing your content to a marketing agency, we may be a fit for you! Everything you see in our podcast and content is a result of a scrappy, nimble, internal content team along with an AI-powered content systems and process. Check out pricing and services here: ⁠https://impaxs.com⁠Head to our website to stream every episode on your favorite platform, join the Founder Talk community, and submit questions for future guests–all in one place: https://foundertalkpodcast.com/Timecodes00:00 Introduction and Guest Background00:46 Founding C3 Education and Research02:43 Challenges and Rewards of Entrepreneurship04:58 Law Enforcement and Public Perception15:45 Mental Health and Officer Wellness17:00 Balancing Work and Personal Life28:09 Effective Communication in Relationships33:39 Financial Pitfalls of New Recruits35:01 The Importance of Financial Planning35:49 Materialism and Happiness36:50 Balancing Family and Work39:29 The Role of Passion in Business46:19 Stress and Burnout51:54 Mental Health and Suicide Awareness56:38 Global Training Experiences59:36 Training and Curriculum Design01:04:10 Conclusion and Contact Information

Sleep isn't just about feeling rested—it's the foundation for energy, recovery, hormones, cravings, and long-term health. In this episode, I break down what sleep deprivation does to your body (including hunger hormones and insulin sensitivity), why poor sleep makes nutrition and training feel impossible, and the most effective habits to upgrade your sleep—especially during winter and daylight savings changes.

“Lovergirl, I know you want love real bad… but please don't settle for half-love.”This video is for the women who love deeply, who feel everything, and who keep trying to make it work with men who can't meet them. If you're a lovergirl who gives your whole heart, this message is going to hit home.I talk about why longing can trick you into staying, how self-abandonment sneaks in disguised as “patience,” why emotionally unavailable men can't love you in the ways you need, and how to finally stop settling for half-effort, half-connection, and half-love.You deserve someone who meets you fully.With clarity.With consistency.With devotion.Your heart is too intentional for bare-minimum love — and in this video, I walk you through the mindset shift that finally sets you free.If you're healing, growing, or learning your worth again… this one is for you.✨ Let's connect:

The Rebel News podcasts features free audio-only versions of select RebelNews+ content and other Rebel News long-form videos, livestreams, and interviews. Monday to Friday enjoy the audio version of Ezra Levant's daily TV-style show, The Ezra Levant Show, where Ezra gives you his contrarian and conservative take on free speech, politics, and foreign policy through in-depth commentary and interviews. Wednesday evenings you can listen to the audio version of The Gunn Show with Sheila Gunn Reid the Chief Reporter of Rebel News. Sheila brings a western sensibility to Canadian news. With one foot in the oil patch and one foot in agriculture, Sheila challenges mainstream media narratives and stands up for Albertans. If you want to watch the video versions of these podcasts, make sure to begin your free RebelNewsPlus trial by subscribing at http://www.RebelNewsPlus.com

webpage:www.podpage.com/the-3-13-men-money-and-marriageCash App: $a114johnsonSummaryIn this episode of the 313 Men, Money and Marriage podcast, host Andrew Johnson explores the interplay between optimism and arithmetic in relationships. He discusses how individuals often prioritize hope and potential over logical evaluations, leading to poor decision-making in partner selection. The conversation delves into the dangers of excessive optimism, the importance of balancing emotional investment with practical considerations, and when optimism can be a beneficial investment in a relationship. Johnson emphasizes the need for self-awareness and realistic expectations in dating and relationships.takeawaysOptimism often clouds judgment in relationships.Many choose partners based on potential rather than reality.Arithmetic in relationships serves as a scorecard for contributions.Ignoring red flags can lead to chronic issues like infidelity.The sunken cause fallacy can trap individuals in unfulfilling relationships.Balancing optimism with logic is crucial for healthy relationships.The five to one rule can guide relationship satisfaction.Self-awareness is key in setting realistic expectations.Understanding the odds can prevent wasted time in dating.Optimism can be beneficial when grounded in reality.The Balance of Hope and Logic in RelationshipsNavigating Love: Optimism vs. Arithmetic"When does optimism become delusional?""Ignoring red flags pertaining to optimism.""The sunken cause fallacy in relationships."Chapters00:00 Introduction and Overview01:20 Optimism vs. Arithmetic in Relationships04:56 The Role of Emotional Investment09:51 Delusional Optimism and Red Flags10:51 Finding Balance Between Optimism and Arithmetic16:42 Conclusion: When Optimism Pays Off

Justin Whitmel Earley once believed he could outwork sleep, outrun stress, and think his way out of anxiety until his body forced him to face the truth. In this powerful return to The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast, Justin shares how a sudden collapse into panic, insomnia, and intrusive thoughts exposed the danger of living as if we are machines instead of human beings with God-given limits. Together, Justin and Ginny unpack the core message of his newest book, The Body Teaches the Soul—that many of our deepest struggles aren't solved by trying harder, but by relearning how to live inside the design of our bodies through breath, rest, rhythm, and habit. From box breathing and breath prayers to Sabbath, sleep, and the quiet power of daily “trellis habits,” this conversation brings theology down into the lungs, the nervous system, the dinner table, and the bedtime routine. You'll hear how limits are not a punishment but a gift and how ignoring them quietly erodes our peace, our families, and our faith. This episode is for anyone who feels stretched thin, chronically tired, or quietly anxious as well as for parents trying to pass something better to their children. Check out Justin's podcast here: https://www.intentionalfatherhood.org Get your copy of The Body Teaches the Soul here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to episode 538 of the Outdoor Adventure Lifestyle Podcast. A Holiday Replay of episode 501 with Earl Hunter. Earl is a motivational speaker and founder of The Unity Folks™. Welcome to the Outdoor Adventure Lifestyle Podcast. Today, on episode 501, Earl B. Hunter, Jr. from Black Folks Camp To make a second visit to The Show. is the Founder and President of Black Folks Camp Too — a marketing-driven business whose mission is to increase diversity in the outdoor industry by making it easier, more interesting, and more fun for Folks to go camping. He's an experienced business leader across multiple industries. He has been widely recognized for his ebullient personality, hard work ethic, and non-traditional approach to building relationships and closing deals. Facebook   Twitter   Instagram Love the show? Subscribe,  rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter  HERE I'd love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here:  rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com What Happened: It was the summer of 2017. I was clocking miles like a long-haul trucker, repping campers for a living. My 7-year-old son called me out—said I'd promised to take him to Mount Rushmore. He was right. I'd driven past it more times than I could count, but I'd never stopped. So we hit the road. We camped our way across the country, father and son, a Black duo in a tiny pop-up trailer, parking it beside some seriously decked-out RV setups. We saw the sights, roasted marshmallows, and somewhere near Albuquerque, we spotted something we hadn't seen in thousands of miles: another Black family camping. My son lit up and said, "Hey Daddy! Black people!" That moment stuck. We talked to the family—Kimberly and crew—and she said something that flipped a switch in my brain: "Why don't you change that then?" That "why not you?" hit hard. By the time we were driving up the California coast, the name Black Folks Camp Too was born. Principle: Too often, we wait for permission—permission to belong, to show up, to start something meaningful. But sometimes, it takes seeing the gap with your own eyes, feeling the silence in certain spaces, to realize: you're the one who's supposed to fill it. And in business, just like in the outdoors, if you're only serving the same people the same way… you're gonna miss the fire. The campfire, that is. Transition: Most people think getting more folks into the outdoors is about better gear or cool photos on Instagram. But that's not it. The real challenge is the invitation—and the welcome. And too many companies still don't know why the diversity gap exists, so they don't know how to fix it. That's why a lot of businesses are struggling. Not because there's no market—but because they don't see who they're ignoring. And even when they do? They get hung up on the word Black in the name… instead of focusing on the unity behind the mission. That's why: That's why this episode matters. Earl Hunter isn't just talking about camping—he's talking about culture, connection, and cracking open an industry that's been too exclusive for too long. He's not asking for handouts or kumbayas. He's showing up with data, vision, and a real plan to shift the outdoor industry before it goes broke. Call to Action (PAS style): If you've ever felt like the outdoor world wasn't built for you—or your brand's been stuck serving the same crowd—it's time to tune in. Ignoring the invitation problem won't fix it. But this episode will give you a fresh lens and a fire to take action.  Hit play now. Let's change the campfire conversation. Show Notes: Earl Hunter Black Folks Camp Too Oboz Insoles Sylvansport  Georgia Military College  Appalachian State University Earl's Trail name:  Icebreaker  Mount Rushmore  Unity Blaze  Favorite piece of outdoor gear: OBOZ Insoles Favorite book:  The Billion Dollar Bet,  Bob Johnson Advice:  the first advice I would give folks is, is to go to our unity, go to black folks camp too, and go to our Unity blaze map and find campgrounds that are on our map that are actually there. Those folks are truly invited and welcoming you to camp at their campground. I would also say to know before you go. Do as much research as you can. You have these devices now, and you have so many YouTube channels and things of that nature to learn about camping. Follow up with Earl: earl@blackfolkscamptoo.com Black Folks Camp Too Thank you for joining us on another episode of the Outdoor Adventure Lifestyle Podcast. Be sure to visit our website, rick saes.com. You'll find show notes and links to everything we talked about and more. And while you're at it, if you found value in this show, give us a rating on Apple Podcast or spread the word and tell a friend. That would really help us out too. We should tune in every week. Thanks again for listening to the Outdoor Adventure Lifestyle Podcast. #Outdoor Adventure Lifestyle Podcast, #Black Folks Camp Too, #Earl Hunter, #diversity in the outdoors, #Appalachian State, #Unity Blaze, #outdoor industry, #inclusion, #Unity Blaze partners, #outdoor community, #backpacking, #state parks, #Oboz Footwear, #Spacious Skies Campgrounds, #outdoor lifestyle, #RV camping, #outdoor participation, #unity in outdoors, #generational transfer, #environmental stewardship.

Kent Beck: You're Ignoring Optionality… and Paying for ItIn this episode of Maintainable, Robby speaks with Kent Beck, a foundational voice in modern software development and author of Tidy First?. Kent joins from California to explore why optionality is a central, often underestimated dimension of maintainable software.Kent begins by describing the tension between features and future flexibility. Shipping new capabilities is easy to measure. Creating options for what comes next is not. That imbalance is where maintainability either flourishes or collapses. Senior developers in particular must learn to navigate this tension because they have lived through the consequences when no one does.They reflect on how cost models have shifted across the last five decades. Early in Kent's career, computers were expensive and programmers were cheap. Today the balance often flips depending on scale. At massive scale, electricity and compute time become meaningful costs again. That variability shapes whether teams optimize for hardware efficiency or developer efficiency.Episode Highlights[00:00:46] The Two Forms of Software ValueKent explains why software value comes from both current features and the options you preserve for future work. He describes optionality as the invisible half of maintainability.[00:03:35] When Computers Become “Expensive” AgainRobby and Kent revisit the shift from hardware-optimized development to developer-optimized development and how large-scale systems have reintroduced compute cost pressures.[00:07:25] Why the Question Mark in Tidy First?Kent shares why tidying is always a judgment call and why he put a question mark in the title.[00:10:14] The Real Cost of Speculative FlexibilityThey discuss why adding configurability too early creates waste and why waiting until just before you need it increases value.[00:13:46] Making Hard Changes EasyKent outlines his guiding idea. When you face a difficult change, make the change easy first, then make the easy change.[00:17:08] The Feature SawKent explains his features versus options graph and how teams repeatedly burn optionality until they hit zero. At that point, forward movement becomes painful.[00:19:37] Why 100 Percent Utilization Is a TrapKent discusses how queuing theory shows that full utilization pushes wait times toward infinity. Overcommitted teams have no room for design work.[00:22:44] Split Teams Do Not Solve the ProblemRobby talks about consulting scenarios where “tidy teams” and “feature teams” are separated. Kent argues that this splits incentives and prevents optionality from being sustained.[00:26:15] Structure and Behavior Should Not Ship TogetherKent describes why feature changes are irreversible, structure changes are reversible, and why combining them increases risk for everyone.[00:30:37] Tidying Reveals IntentWhile cleaning up structure, developers often uncover logic flaws or misunderstandings that were previously hidden.[00:32:00] When Teams Discourage TestingKent shares stories about environments where developers were punished for refactoring or writing tests. He explains why building career options is essential in those situations.[00:37:57] Why Tidying Is an Ethical ObligationKent reframes optionality as a moral responsibility. No one should make work harder for the next person who touches the code.[00:41:33] Succession and SlicingKent describes how nearly every structural change can be broken into small, safe steps, even when the change first appears atomic.[00:47:00] A Small Habit to Start TodayKent suggests adding a blank line to separate conceptual chunks in long functions. It is a small step that improves clarity immediately.Resources MentionedTidy First? by Kent BeckKent Beck on SubstackThe Timeless Way of Building by Christopher AlexanderThanks to Our Sponsor!Turn hours of debugging into just minutes! AppSignal is a performance monitoring and error-tracking tool designed for Ruby, Elixir, Python, Node.js, Javascript, and other frameworks.It offers six powerful features with one simple interface, providing developers with real-time insights into the performance and health of web applications.Keep your coding cool and error-free, one line at a time! Use the code maintainable to get a 10% discount for your first year. Check them out! Subscribe to Maintainable on:Apple PodcastsSpotifyOr search "Maintainable" wherever you stream your podcasts.Keep up to date with the Maintainable Podcast by joining the newsletter.

One of the laws of nature is the law of biogenesis: life only comes from other life. An exception to this rule has never been observed in nature or in the lab.

The National Security Hour with LTC Sargis Sangari – Taiwan stands at the center of America's survival as a nation. I argue from experience that our security, economy, and strategic freedom now depend on a single island producing the chips that power modern defense and industry. Ignoring this reality risks surrendering sovereignty, stability, and moral clarity in an increasingly dangerous world...

What if the key to unlocking peak performance is not pushing harder but mastering the art of mental focus and well-being? I traveled to LA to be at Mastery Labs to unlock the secrets of high performance with Michael Gervais, a renowned expert in mindfulness and psychology. This is our annual Holiday episode of Ultimate Guide to Partnering and my gift to you, our amazing listeners, followers, and community. Michael shares how mental training can revolutionize personal and professional approaches to challenges, from his roots in elite sports to shaping corporate cultures. He explores the pivotal moments that sparked his passion, revealing how psychological skills like confidence and focus can be trained to thrive in any environment. This episode highlights actionable strategies for balancing well-being with ambition, applying insights from sports to business, and using mindfulness to direct focus effectively. With stories ranging from surfing competitions to Microsoft's cultural transformation under Satya Nadella, Michael offers a holistic perspective on performance psychology and sustainable success. Thank you for supporting Ultimate Partner and the Ultimate Guide to Partnering Podcast. Please tell your friends, subscribe, and leave us up to a 5-star Review, as it helps us get more amazing guests.

If a Ukraine proposal was shaped to benefit a foreign power tied to Kushner's money, that's not diplomacy: it's corruption…See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On Tuesday's Mark Levin Show, history teaches us and helps demonstrate what patriotism is. But how can we demand patriotism from immigrants when we have American citizens on the neo-fascist right who trash our history? These people are not America first. How can they be America first when they don't understand our history, or founding? They will ensure that the Republicans lose the midterms and the Democrats choose the next president by causing even a small number of Republican and conservative voters to stay home. And the Marxist-Islamist left loves Carlson and the rest of them, as do the Democrat media that continuously promotes them. They know that he and his ilk will deliver them victories. We must do all we can to overcome this. Later, socialism light is not the answer to affordability. Capitalism is how you create prosperity and growth, which creates affordability and supply. Socialism light is also ineffective against aggressive socialism and the RINO proponents sound like liberals or Marxists. They lack coherent philosophy and resort to attacks while ignoring historical lessons from great minds like Milton Friedman, Mises, Hayek, Adam Smith, Reagan, and Trump. Afterward, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth is doing an excellent job. That's why the hate America Democrats relentlessly attack him. They need to get the hell off his back and condemn our enemies instead! Finally, Steve Hilton calls in to discuss his race for Governor of California. He can achieve a political upset next year by adopting Trump's common-sense approach nationwide, focusing on addressing bloated government and high costs driven by the climate insanity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Happy December!!!! As the year come to an end, a lot of us may be realizing we're not exactly where we thought we'd be. Maybe you didn't hit your resolutions. Maybe you feel like you should be “further along.” Maybe you're disappointed in your own lack of progress and don't know why things aren't changing… even though you want them to. In today's episode, I talk about the truth behind why you know better but still don't do better. Why you keep repeating the same patterns, ending up in the same situations, attracting the same friendships or relationships, or feeling stuck in the same habits.  Today's ep covers.... • Knowing the problem but not actually solving it • Repeating patterns you haven't named yet • Ignoring the lessons life is trying to teach you • The difference between “protecting your peace” and avoiding accountability Journal prompts - How does this make me feel…. Why did this happen? Did I play a part in this happening? Does this align with who I want to be? Am I able to change the outcome or do I need to remove myself from the situation? “What's one pattern I've been repeating that I haven't named yet? What is it and is it negatively impacting me or my goals?” “Are my actions aligned with my goals? What are 3 things I can do right now to change my behavior and make a change?” Trying Not to Care is sponsored by Fabletics - Go to fabletics.com/TNTC and sign up as a VIP and get eighty percent off everything Trying Not to Care is sponsored by Uncommon Goods - Get 15% off your next gift at uncommongoods.com/tntc WANT TO ASK ME QUESTIONS? NEED ADVICE? Follow me on IG and look out for submissions on my story or ask me here: 2025 google form JOIN THE TRYING NOT TO CARE GROUPCHAT HERE ✨https://links.geneva.com/invite/3b386511-50ef-42fb-8363-16807ef87c21 KEEP UP WITH ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA Instagram: Ashley's Instagram | Trying Not to Care Instagram TikTok: Ashley's TikTok | Trying Not to Care TikTok Youtube: Subscribe here Amazon Storefront and more: LTX Podcast Business Inquiries - ashleychristinecorbo@gmail.com Social Media Inquiries - ashley@abouttalentagency.com